CAHR Hosts Workshop on a UK Network of Human Rights Cities

Posted on Tuesday 5 August 2025

Among the opening speakers were Councillor Claire Douglas, Leader, City of York Council, who provided strong support for the idea, and Sarah Spencer, CBE, Global Exchange on Migration and Diversity, who shared insights from the City Initiative on Migrants with Irregular Status in Europe (C-Mise).

On the first day, speakers shared good practices from a range of perspectives, including lived experience, NGOs and civil society, council officers and elected officials, and academia. Day two began with input from Professor Gerd Oberlietner from Graz, Europe’s first human rights city. The remainder of the event was spent in small groups, discussing what a network might look like and do. Among the themes addressed were the network’s title, governance, purpose, membership and activities. 

There was support for moving forward with establishing a network, and CAHR will be among those taking this idea forward in the autumn.