The Human Rights Cities Network (HRCN) and the Global Parliament of Mayors (GPM) invite you to a special webinar on 17 December in celebration of Human Rights Month. This kick-off event will lay the foundation for an ambitious journey under the DeCiDE Project, focused on co-creating an effective and inclusive human rights monitoring system for cities.
The session will focus on:
- The importance of monitoring tools and mechanisms for upholding human rights in urban contexts.
- Real-world city experiences in developing and implementing human rights monitoring systems.
- A participatory and inclusive methodology to ensure evidence-based and community-driven solutions.
This webinar is the first step in a collaborative process, with consultations held both before and after the event to gather inclusive, shared, and strategic insights.
REGISTER HERE!
For more information, contact: margarita.spasova@humanrightscities.net
Funded by the European Union
MEET OUR SPEAKERS!
Opening remarks:
Dr. Éva Tessza Udvarhelyi, Deputy Mayor of Józsefváros
Tessza Udvarhelyi, PhD is a cultural anthropologist and environmental psychologist by training. She is a long-time housing activist and political educator and a founder of several grassroots organizations including The City is for All and the School of Public Life. From 2019 to 2024 Tessza was the head of the Office of Community Participation at the Municipality of Józsefváros (Budapest District 8) and from October, 2024 she has been serving as the vice mayor of the district responsible for social policy and community relations.
Keynote Speaker:
Sirpa Rautio, Director of the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights: Insights on data-driven policy recommendations to uphold human rights at local and national levels, with a focus on anti-discrimination, migrant rights, and housing.
Since March 2024, Sirpa Rautio is Director of the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA).
Previously, she was the first Director of the Finnish National Human Rights Institution, the Finnish Human Rights Centre that she established. She served as its Director from March 2012 until February 2024. She was also Chairperson of the European Network of Human Rights Institutions (ENNHRI) from March 2022 until 2024. Prior to returning to Finland in 2012, Sirpa worked abroad for some 20 years in expert and managerial positions in international organisations, including at the World Bank, the United Nations, the Council of Europe, the OSCE and the EU.
Sirpa was a member of the FRA’s Management Board from 2015-2020 and Chairperson of the Board from 2017. She has worked on human rights and rule of law both in the field and at the headquarters. She has extensive experience working in post-conflict settings and countries in transition. Sirpa is a lawyer by profession, having graduated from the University of Turku, Finland.
Panel Discussion: City Perspectives and Initiatives
Paul Maassen, Chief of Global Programmes at Open Government Partnership: Perspectives from the OGP Local Programme on fostering transparency, accountability, and citizen participation to enhance urban human rights.
Paul Maassen started working with the Open Government Partnership in June 2012. He is currently the Chief, Global Programs and leads on the implementation of the strategy for OGPs engagement with and strategic support of all OGP stakeholders at the global level. Before assuming this role Paul was responsible for overseeing the OGP support to national members across the globe. Paul has a long track record in the role technology and media can play in changing people’s lives and the societies they live in.
Prior to joining OGP Paul worked as Head of Finance and Partnerships for WWF International’ Global Climate & Energy Initiative, working primarily with WWF offices in emerging economies to strengthen the design and sustainability of their programs. Before joining WWF Paul worked for 7 years with Dutch development organisation Hivos, as program manager for the global ICT & Media program. This is where he learned the ropes of being a funder and got a deep understanding of the complexities of realizing change in developing and repressive countries. Paul strongly believes in the potential of individuals to make a difference if they set their mind to it and get the tools – including technology – to realize their potential. He was also involved in the establishment of the East African citizen agency initiative Twaweza. Paul attained private sector experience with Dutch telecom company KPN. He holds an MSC in industrial engineering and management.
Fionn Toland, Researcher from the City of York : Experience in human rights integration and monitoring at the municipal level.
Fionn Toland is a researcher interested in the way in which the law helps to structure capitalism, particularly in relation to housing markets and urban development, and in the relationship between social movements and the law.
From 2022 – 2024, he was a research associate at the Centre for Applied Human Rights, working on issues surrounding the implementation of human rights at the local level.
He completed his doctoral studies at Maynooth University in Ireland in 2023. His thesis, entitled ‘Radical Justice: Activist Engagement with Legal Structures During the Irish Housing Crisis’, questioned whether anti-capitalist activists can benefit from engaging with legal structures.
Benedetto Zacchiroli, President of the European Coalition of Cities Against Racism: Focusing on tools like the 10-Point Action Plan to combat racism and discrimination
BENEDETTO ZACCHIROLI has been the President of the European Coalition of Cities against Racism – ECCAR since April 2015. Having been the city councillor of the Municipality of Bologna from Jun 2011 to June 2016, he has experience working at the municipal level. Benedetto is also the founder and director of “DiverCity: The UNESCO ICCAR Youth Bootcamp for Inclusive and Sustainable Cities”, which has run in Europe and beyond.
