On 25 June 2025, the Global Parliament of Mayors (GPM), in partnership with the Human Rights Cities Network (HRCN), hosted a dynamic webinar highlighting how cities across Europe are stepping up to monitor and advance human rights at the local level. The event was held in the framework of the DeCiDE project (Boost Democratic Participation in Cities to Recharge Democracy in Europe), a joint initiative of the GPM and HRCN supported by the European Union.
The webinar brought together city representatives, civil society leaders, and human rights experts to explore how the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights can be translated into meaningful action at the city level. The focus was on three priority areas identified by participating cities: non-discrimination, access to social and cultural services, and democratic participation.
In his opening statement, Rainer Kern, Executive Director of the GPM, emphasized that human rights are not only national or international concerns—they are lived and contested every day in cities. Whether through access to housing, education, healthcare, or public space, it is local governments that play a frontline role in ensuring these rights are respected and fulfilled.
Kern stressed that the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights outlines vital protections—such as dignity, freedom, equality, and justice—but these must be brought to life at the municipal level through local policy, budgets, and citizen engagement. He underscored that the DeCiDE project empowers cities to co-create tools that allow them to monitor rights-based progress, learn from one another, and embed human rights more deeply into local governance.
Following Kern, Julia Johnson of the Human Rights Cities Network explained the participatory process used to select the three human rights areas that cities will monitor under the DeCiDE project. She highlighted that the selection was grounded in a bottom-up approach, reflecting the cities’ priorities, capacities, and local relevance.
Cities were presented with a shortlist of ten topics—based on the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights—and selected the final three through deliberative discussions, ensuring both feasibility and impact. Johnson emphasized the need for practical, city-led monitoring frameworks, and underscored that while the DeCiDE project is a pilot, it is designed to have a long-term legacy by equipping cities with the skills to monitor a wider range of rights beyond the project’s formal scope.
The session featured insightful contributions from city officials and civil society organizations actively shaping the DeCiDE project:
Carmen Van Puyenbroeck from the City of Ghent shared how her city is tackling issues of non-discrimination and inclusion in public services. She highlighted both areas of progress and challenges that remain in ensuring equal access for all.
Fanni Bíborka Kontró from Józsefváros District in Budapest described how the city encourages civic and political participation beyond elections, through participatory budgeting and inclusive democratic mechanisms—bringing the spirit of Articles 12 and 39 of the Charter to life in local governance.
Farkas Attila, Program Manager at Mira! Intercultural Community, spoke about unmonitored or under-reported human rights issues, particularly those affecting migrants and refugees. He emphasized the importance of community spaces that provide language learning, access to information, and a sense of belonging.
Peter Roosens, a youth worker and quality policy maker at LEJO (Belgium), discussed how civil society can play a key role in turning monitoring results into change. He provided concrete examples from LEJO’s work using experiential learning to support vulnerable youth and influence policy.
The webinar was moderated by Frédérique Hanotier, Board Member of the Human Rights Cities Network, who guided the discussion through key themes of democratic inclusion, local empowerment, and practical human rights implementation. Insights gathered during the webinar will inform the upcoming DeCiDE training session in Treviso in the fall, which will be tailored to the needs and priorities of participating cities. The session also reaffirmed the growing momentum behind local human rights monitoring as a powerful tool for strengthening democracy and inclusion in Europe.
Speakers:
Rainer Kern, Executive Director, GPM
Julia Johnson, HRCN
Councillor Francesca Benciolini from the City of Padova
Carmen Van Puyenbroeck from the City of Ghent
Fanni Bíborka Kontró from the district of Józsefváros in Budapest
Farkas Attila, Program Manager at Mira! Intercultural Community And
Peter Roosens, Youth Worker and Policy Maker at LEJO, Belgium
The DeCiDE project is funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or European Commission. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.