The cherry blossoms bloomed, and everything around turned green - the spring really has come. As the new season unfolds, we hope you recharge and enjoy these warm days. Last month we set the new theme for this year - “Climate Change and Human Rights”, and with the enormous help from our partners, we’re happy to announce the release of the Concept Note. As usual, we strive to deliver not only our latest news but also useful information on this Forum’s theme through our monthly newsletter.😊

The release of the 12th WHRCF Concept Note

The theme of this year’s Forum is ''Climate Change and Human Rights''. During the 2nd International Steering Committee meeting on April 5th, we held a discussion on the contents and keywords that should be included in the Concept Note, and after several editing and proofreading, we’re happy to deliver the final result. Through this year’s Forum, we hope to provide relevant information and best practices on how to respond to climate change, highlight the accountability of local governments closely dealing with citizens’ human rights, and discuss ways to develop guidelines and promote international solidarity to cope with climate change.

In Korea, the Day for the Elimination of Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities is observed annually on April 21th. In light of its 42th anniversary, Gwangju DPO(Disabled People's Organization)s and CSOs proposed the 10-point policy for persons with disabilities during the rally on April 18th. They requested to guarantee the right to move around freely, right to health and right to work within the Gwangju Charter of Human Rights.

''Whereas all citizens of Gwangju are entitled to enjoy all human rights as a member of a free and humane community, in areas of political, economic social, cultural and environmental nature, without distinction of any kind, such as race, gender, age, religion, disability, nationality, region of birth, economic and social status.'' - from Gwangju Human Rights Charter Preamble."

-📝Gwangju Human Rights Charter-

• <The 2022 Social Forum> hosted by UN Office of High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) on November 3rd-4th
• Calls for applications for the International Award Best Practice in Citizen Participation hosted by The United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG)  by May 31st
• <The 97th Human Rights Policy Round Table> hosted by Gwangju Metropolitan Office of Education by April 28th
• Calls for participants in <May School (training program for educational activists)> hosted by The May 18th Memorial Foundation by April 30th
• “The policy discussion on the role of the regional community to promote the right to health of people with disabilities and medical access” hosted by Gwangju Human Right Center for People with Disabilities on April 26th