In the organizer's words:

Cologne Human Rights Dialogues 2025
December 8-11, 2025 in Cologne

The Human Rights Dialog ues are taking place in Cologne for the first time - a new format that brings together international and local human rights defenders. The aim is to strengthen their important work through workshops, exchange and networking. According to the United Nations, human rights defenders are individuals or groups who use peaceful means to advocate for the protection and implementation of human rights. Eight of them from various countries - including Ethiopia, Russia and Romania - and two from Cologne are taking part.

Symposium "How to defend Human Rights Defenders?"

December 9, 2025

To mark International Human Rights Day (10 December), the symposium will address the question of how human rights defendersaround the world can be better protected, supported and made visible. Expertsfrom journalism, academia and politics will discuss current challenges - from state repression to digital violence - together with the invited activists.

The event is aimed at all Cologne residents, students, activists, employees of human rights organizations and interested parties.

Background

Pressure on human rights defenders is increasing worldwide. Many are subjected to verbal and physical attacks - over 300 were killed in 2024 alone because of their work. The number of unreported cases is significantly higher.

Cologne has been part of the UCLG campaign "10, 100, 1000 Human Rights Cities by 2030" since 2023 and has thus officially declared itself a human rights city. The Cologne City Council has also repeatedly resolved to strengthen human rights and provide targeted support for human rights defenders. The new human rights dialogs implement this mandate.

🤝 Cooperation

The Human Rights Dialogues are organized in cooperation with

• the Academy for European Human Rights Protection at the University of Cologne

• the International Office of the University of Cologne

• the Hamburg Foundation for Politically Persecuted People

• Reporters without Borders

You are cordially invited to take part in the symposium and exchange ideas with expertsand human rights defenders.

Price information:

Registration to: eurocologne@stadt-koeln.de