The AEPF social justice cluster participated with a small delegation in the World Human Rights Cities Forum in Gwangju, South-Korea.

The delegation:

Two participants from Europe:

–        Francine Mestrum, co-coordinator of social justice cluster
–        Cesare Ottilini, global coordinator of IAI, International Alliance of Inhabitants

Four participants of Asia:

–        Chandan Kumar, Global Platform Right to the City, India
–        Varghese Thekanath, Montfort Social Institute, India
–        Erik Villanueva, Institute for Popular Democracy, Philippines
–        Michael Beltran, National Alliance for Filipino Urban Poor, Philippines

Two participants from South-Korea:

–        Choi Ji Hee, Minsnail Union
–        Hong Jeonghoon, People’s Solidarity for Participatory Democracy

Two more participants from South Korea joined our group:

–        Chansik Park, Jeju People’s Assembly against 2nd airport
–        Maria Youngsin Lim, Imagine Peace

Our delegation met for a coordination meeting on Sep 30 afternoon

The Conference opened on Sep 30 with a ‘Human Rights Dark Tour’, a visit to the places of the 1980 rebellion against the military dictatorship, having caused hundreds of victims. It is in memory of these events and these victims that the city of Gwangju is organizing these regular conferences, focusing on democracy and human rights, this year also on the ‘right to the city’.

At the opening ceremony at 4 pm the City Mayor welcomed the participants. Several senior civil servants and representatives of international bodies, such as UN OHCHR and UN Habitat joined in the opening speeches.

Several initiatives have been taken these last years to give a major role to cities and local governments for the promotion and defence of human rights and democracy. Worldwide, city brands are emerging, and till now a total of 53 ‘brands’ have been registered, from ‘human
rights cities’ to ‘inclusive cities’, ‘green cities’, ‘transformative cities’, ‘fearless cities’, ‘innovative cities, etc. etc.

The UN now has a New Urban Agenda and a World Charter for the Right to the City has been adopted.

More than 100 million people are homeless today, worldwide, and 1.6 billion live in inadequate houses. Housing has become an asset for investors. The total value of these ‘assets’ is estimated at 163 trillion US$, more than twice global GDP.

AEPF participants attended several workshops during the two days conference.

Our major activities took place on Sep 30: A co-organised event with UCLG ( United Cities and Local Governments), and the International Alliance of Inhabitants.

The introduction was in the hands of Amanda Flety from UCLG.

A first presentation was from Julieta Perucca, advisor to the Special Rapporteur on the Right to Adequate Housing, Ms Leilani Farha. She presented the Make the Shift Campaign, meaning ‘adequate housing’ has to give an opportunity for a life in dignity with participation in decision-making. Efforts are made to shape a platform with OCHR, UCLG and other civil society organisations. One should never forget housing is about people who need a home. The forces we are facing are global and we should be able to answer globally.

Representatives from the cities of Vienna, Ulaan Baatar and Taipei presented the situation of social housing in their cities.

Brenda Perez of the Asian Coalition for Housing Rights, a wealthy organisation, explained the community-led approach that should lead to system change.

Francine Mestrum explained the objectives and opportunities of AEPF’s Global Charter for Social Protection Rights and the commons approach for public services, such as housing.

Cesare Ottolini presented the zero eviction campaign, worldwide.

Varghese Theckanath, Erik Villanueva, Michael Beltran presented the difficult situation in their home towns and countries, focusing on the necessary holistic approach when talking about housing, since it concerns livelihoods. More attention should go to the people, not ‘the
poor’ but ‘the workers’ who built the cities. New projects are to be owned by the people, very often political education is needed so that people can claim their rights. There is a need for resistance. We should never concede to the ‘adapt/resilience’ discourse.

Choi Ji Hee and Hong Jeonghoon talked about the specific problems in Seoul and South Korea.

Two representatives of JeJu island explained the difficult struggles of the inhabitants against the offensive of the tourist industry on their island, building airports, ports, hotel complexes, etc. Land should never be an asset, but should remain a common good.

Local students gave a brief presentation of their perspective on the problems of housing.

Our second meeting was a more ‘internal’ one, coordinated by Chandan Kumar, meant to prepare our strategy.

After a brief presentation of the major problems, it was noted that we should strive for as much cooperation as possible. Problems can arise because we all use the same language, but we do not necessarily use the same meanings.

Therefore, speaking of ‘commons’, ‘community-driven’ and ‘participation’ or ‘system change’ is not enough. We should try to find out what exactly are the objectives and how far we can walk along the same path.

We most probably share the same analysis, though our solutions might be different.

We should start to build a political process.

The social justice cluster presented a draft declaration concerning our strategy.

Finally, in a third ‘private’ meeting with representatives from Polis and the Right to the City Platform, we looked at the concrete possibilities for arranging a seminar in Manila in spring 2020. Polis has started a research project in four countries. The seminar might be an opportunity for a first discussion on the results.

Objectives of the social justice cluster:

The objectives for this conference of the social justice cluster have clearly been met:

Building a robust partnership with progressive movements to challenge neo-liberal forces. Housing for the people, that is commons, not an asset.

The need for addressing urban and rural poverty has become critical. The right to housing and the right to the city are basic human rights, implying all public services that are needed for a life in dignity and an adequate standard of living.

The extent to which Asian movements are organised for resistance to the current neoliberal trends is limited. We have started a political process, with first contacts, that will need to be worked on in the immediate future.

We therefore have to organise and support resistance beyond adaptation and resilience, we need a comprehensive approach including housing, along with all crucial public social services, such water, energy, sanitation, public transport, etc

Asia is a very dynamic region with high growth rates , but dramatically low social spending, and moreover the continent is particularly vulnerable to the consequences of climate change. The
region is characterised by weak democracies with limited citizen’s participation in decision making.

In our strategy meetings, it was suggested we might try to organise a seminar on ‘The right to housing, basic services and social protection’ in the Philippines, preferably in spring 2020. The point will certainly also be taken up at AEPF13 in autumn 2020.

The main purpose will be to work towards common perspectives and strategies in our approach to urbanism; social protection and sustainability. he final objective should be to go towards the
building of a broad network/partnership of urban and rural activism in Asia.

Contacts were made with a member of the Malaysia Parliament: Ms Maria Chin Abdullah.

These matters are closely related to democracy and to the environment and offer ample opportunities for inter-cluster cooperation. The social justice cluster is ready and available for giving an input to the Amsterdam meeting of the democracy cluster on transformative
cities in December 2019.