Makati hosts 2nd ASEAN Human Rights cities forum

Makati Mayor Nancy Binay will host international human rights delegates, local government leaders and European Union representatives on 3 and 4 November for the 2nd Regional Forum on Human Rights Cities in ASEAN.

The two-day hybrid conference at the Dusit Thani Manila will center on translating high-level human rights commitments into accessible municipal services.

Carrying the theme “Localizing Human Rights for Inclusive Development Towards Localizing the ASEAN Community Vision 2045,” the event will convene approximately 54 delegates in person — including 35 foreign participants — along with virtual attendees from across Southeast Asia and Europe. Delegates are scheduled to arrive in Makati on 2 November.

“It is an honor for Makati to welcome our ASEAN neighbors and European partners as the Philippines chairs ASEAN,” Binay said.

“Makati is known as the premier financial capital of the Philippines. Our guests will see the city that lives beyond the business district. These places prove that Makati is a Human Rights City, where rights are part of daily life,” she added.

The forum builds on outcomes established during the inaugural April 2024 meeting in Bangkok, which focused on multi-level governance, technical capacity-building, city-to-city cooperation, and inclusive institutions.

The upcoming sessions will yield draft regional recommendations and serve as a showcase for the 4th Philippine Human Rights Plan alongside EU-funded initiatives, including the EU-GOJUST program.