Each year, the May 18 Memorial Foundation announces this award in a spirit of solidarity with those working towards democracy. The award goes to one individual or organization who has contributed to the promotion and advancement of human rights, democracy and peace in their work.
Candidates eligible for the Gwangju Prize for Human Rights are nominated by other individuals or organizations. An individual cannot nominate himself or herself.
Core criteria:
1) A person or group who is actively involved in the promotion of Peace and Human Rights and the development of Democracy.
OR
2) A person or group working for the reunification of Korea.
Nominations will be taken from November to the first week of May. Preliminary and final reviews of nominees take place from May to April, and the winner of the Gwangju Prize for Human Rights Award will be announced in the last week of April.
November 2009
Announcement and nomination forms are sent out. The Committee sends out invitation letters containing forms to persons who may be interested in making a nomination.
01 March 2010
Deadline for submission of the form and related documents. The Committee assesses the candidates' work and prepares a shortlist.
April 2010
The committee reviews the shortlist and consults advisers as to their knowledge of chosen candidates. The advisers do not directly evaluate nominations nor give explicit recommendations. On April 23, 2010, committee members will choose a winner and the next day a public announcement and press conference will be held to announce the winner.
18 May 2010
Gwangju Prize for Human Rights Award Ceremony. The prizewinner receives the award.
The Gwangju Prize for Human Rights Award will be presented to the laureate at a ceremony in Gwangju, Republic of Korea on May 18, which is the 30th Anniversary of the Gwangju Uprising. The Award consists of a gold medal, a certificate and a 50 Million Korean Won (KRW 50,000,000.00) grant to support the ongoing work of the laureate.
The annual Gwangju Prize for Human Rights has the following aims:1) To enhance the spirit of the May 18 Democratic Uprising by recognizing individuals, groups and institutions who have contributed to protecting the human rights of the excluded, impoverished and disempowered at the grassroots level.2) To reward individuals, groups and institutions for promoting the goals of the May 18 Democratic Uprising as a movement toward peace, unification and cooperation.
Application Form (Download)
The application deadline is 01 March 2010.
Email: gwangjuprize@gmail.com
Website:htp://518.org/eng
Friday, February 05, 2010
Call for nominations for Gwangju Prize for Human Rights Award 2010
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Call for International Internship 2010
About The May 18 Memorial Foundation
The May 18 Memorial Foundation was founded by Gwangju citizens, sympathetic Koreans overseas and individuals who believe it's important to keep the ideas and memories of the 1980 May 18 Gwangju Democratic Uprising alive.
Please visit
Purpose of the internship programme
2 interns (one male, one female) who will serve for 10 months from March-December 2010.The annual internship program is a crucial part of the Foundation’s mandate to promote international solidarity and further the cause of human rights in Asia.
Through the internship programme the Foundation aims:
1) To improve international solidarity and networking and
2) To promote Gwangju as Asia's Hub for Human Rights Movement.
Applicants should be university graduates not more than 30 years of age, with a minimum of 3 years NGO or social development work experience, though not necessarily in the field of human rights. Preference will be given to those with degrees in human rights-related subjects such as social sciences and communication, and to those who have specialized in human rights issues within these disciplines. Applicants must be computer literate (email/internet, web page, lay-out/design, etc) and proficient in English; working knowledge of Korean is an advantage.
Applicants should be a working member of an organization: applicant cannot apply as individuals without the knowledge/support/recommendation of their current organization.
Please use the following condition to check your eligibility for the Internship Programme before you send us an application.
When to Apply
Application period: October 29, 2009 until November 30, 2009.
The relationship between the Foundation and the intern is one of mutual benefit. Interns are assigned to a unit of the Foundation according to the needs of the office and their own areas of interest. They are involved, inter alia, in managing workshops, preparing for the human rights folk school, conducting their own research, working on human rights issues, drafting analytical papers and reports, providing substantive and technical service and so on, depending on the exigencies of the Office. At the same time, the programme aims to increase the intern's understanding of current human rights issues at the international level.
Interns are assigned to work with a supervisor who is responsible for providing them with a description of duties and a work plan. Upon completion of the internship, both the supervisor and the intern are required to complete a final report describing what was achieved during the internship. In addition, every intern is requested to complete an evaluation questionnaire on his/her assignment and to submit it to the May 18 Memorial Foundation.
He/She must fulfill his/her duties and abide by the rules and regulations of the programme.
Travel costs, airfare and living expenses are provided by the Foundation. Housing will be provided but utilities (telephone/internet, electricity, and gas) will be paid for by interns. Health Insurance will be given to cover accidents/illness incurred during an internship.
An intern who leaves before the end of the internship period will be required to pay any costs incurred and his/her organization will not be allowed to be a network organization in the near future. In case of illness or other circumstances that might prevent the completion of the internship, interns will inform their supervisor.
There is no expectancy of employment at the end of the internship and interns cannot apply for any jobs or pursue a higher degree until the termination of the internship.
Interns are expected to work full-time and to carry out the duties assigned to them. They do not accrue annual leave during the period of the internship. Otherwise, they are bound by the same duties and obligations as regular staff members; in particular, all confidential and unpublished information obtained during the internship may not be used by interns.
Applicants should submit the following documentation:
your completed, dated and signed internship application form;
A copy of your Curriculum Vitae
A scanned copy of your valid and not expired passport.
A write-up detailing your expectations, objectives, and interest in the human rights internship program (not more than two pages).
An official endorsement letter from your superior or head of your organization.
An endorsement/Referral Letter from any Alumni/Contact/Network of the Foundation in your country or abroad. (Please check our website links at
a proof of enrolment in undergraduate studies and a list of courses taken, transcripts of grades or diplomas;
a written sample of research work or an abstract of academic papers (3-10 pages maximum), if undertaken.
Selected candidates are normally informed around the first week of January 2010. Unsuccessful candidates will be notified by email and are encouraged to apply the following year.
Address for applications
Culture and Solidarity Team
The May 18 Memorial Foundation5.18 Memorial Culture HallSeo-Gu, Naebangro 409Postcode 502-260Gwangju, Republic of Korea Phone: +82 62 456 0518 Fax: +82 62 456 0519
Please send all the documentations enclosed with the application form as scanned documents either in PDF format or as WORD attachments.
Tuesday, April 07, 2009
New Interns for 2009
I’m really excited to be starting my second year in Korea! Last year I lived in Seoul whilst volunteering at another human rights NGO and teaching English to support myself. During my stay in Korea I learned a lot about Korean culture and, most importantly, about human rights in Asia.
I hope that my time with 518 will allow me to build on my knowledge and experience of Asian human rights. The more I learn about human and civil rights situations around the world, the more I realize how much work there is to be done. Although sometimes it can feel hopeless, it is also true that a lot of progress has been made through the dedication of human rights NGOs and the commitment and sacrifice of Asian citizens. Through my work with 518 I hope that I too might be able to contribute to the development of freedom and human rights in Asia.
Finally, I’d like to thank 518 for giving me this opportunity and for making me feel so welcome in Korea.
Subash Adhikari, a new intern from Nepal, working in Informal Sector Service Centre (INSEC) human rights organization as an IT Officer. He has been working since 2005.Insec is an organization working for the protection and promotion of social justice since 1989.I feel being as an intern in May 18 Memorial foundation will learn more about the human rights, restoration of democracy in South Korea and international Solidarity. He wants to gain more practical experience in the international organization. The knowledge gained from here will definitely help him a lot for him and implement those in Nepal.Subash likes visiting new places new people, making friends, travelling and learning many new things.
I would like to heartily thank May 18 Memorial Foundation for providing such an opportunity.
Friday, December 26, 2008
Ria and Din Bid 518 Adieu
Full of new experience and gratitude, after 10 months of internship, Ria and Din, bid farewell to The May 18 Memorial Foundation to join their NGO in their country Indonesia and Cambodia respectively. The two interns joined the Culture and Solidarity Team from March-December 2008 for a 10-month International Internship Programme on Human Rights.
The International Internship Programme strives to contribute to the development of democracy and human rights throughout Asia by recruiting four interns from all over the world, who have been working for human rights and peace organizations in their own countries, and by giving them a chance to learn about and experience the history and process of the development of human rights and democracy in South Korea. Specifically the purpose and aim of the program are the following: to improve International Solidarity and to promote Gwangju as Asia's Hub for Human Rights and Democracy Movement.
Gregoria Barbarica Kristina Ritasari or Ria is grateful for the opportunity the foundation provided her. She is program coordinator of Solidaritas Nusa Bangsa Foundation (SNB or Homeland Solidarity) a Non-government organization with a vision of realizing a democratic Indonesian society, respecting the value of brotherhood and equality in pluralism. Ria works closely with victims family of racial discrimination.
She enjoyed her time and work with the Team and other staff whom she is indebted for learning a lot of things. Ria thanks The May 18 Memorial Foundation for having contributed a lot in changing my views and perspective in life.
Din appreciates everything the foundation had provided him as an intern, especially what the good learning and work environment. He hopes that one day he could return back all the kind favors he received to all Koreans particularly to Gwangju citizens.
"I think our working is very good, positive and effective to target group, and I do believe every thing we have done and have been doing are the best activities in Gwangju City on international solidarity and domestic projects" Din believed.
In 2007 Thet Din was a chosen by Khmer Youth Association as a Youth Partners in Development Program (YPD 2007). He joined an exchange program between Cambodia and Sweden that was supported by Swedish Centre for International Youth Exchange, and YPD for a six-month program. In Sweden he was assigned at International Jönköping University as counselor for an International Development Projects Resource Service for International Project.
Activities of the International Internship Programme 2008
The International Internship Program introduced the interns to Korean history in general and in particular to the movements and struggle for democracy, including the 1980 Gwangju Democratic Uprising. Both theoretical learning and practical experiences such as lectures, seminars, discussions, interviews and fieldtrips to the sites of democratization movements in Korea were made.
The interns were assigned to the Culture and Solidarity Team. They were considered as regular staff attending to day-to-day office business. The interns helped in the preparatory work and implementation of different events; made presentations to schools; and performed other tasks the Team will assign them to undertake.
Each intern made a research on a topic of their choice, conducted the relevant research, and delivered a presentation at the end of their internship program. The interns were also supported by the foundation to learn Korean. Both interns enrolled at the Gwangju International Center finishing both basic and intermediate Korean Language Classes.
Highlights of Main Activities
Date
Activities
March 2008
Arrival and Orientation
April
Preparation for the May 18 Events
May
Conduct of the May 18 Events
June
Post May 18 Events
July
Preparation for the 2008 Gwangju Asian Human Rights Folk School
August
Conduct of the 2008 Gwangju Asian Human Rights Folk School
Participation to the 2008 ARENA-Sungkonghoe-MAINS Summer School
September
Post Gwangju Asian Human Rights Folk School
October
Completion of Assigned Project
November
Conduct of Research & NGO Visits
December
Submission of Final Internship Report, Research Work and assigned projects
The above activities were the main events that interns were involved. But throughout the 10-month they were also assigned book reports and performed other tasks for the Culture and Solidarity Team which includes translating brochure of the International Solidarity Programme in their language, blogging issues and campaigns of partners , networking and promotion of the program and activities of the team and attending youth conferences held in Korea.
The interns recommends that The May 18 Memorial Foundation continue the conduct of its International Internship Program. It has been very helpful to have staffs that are capable of speaking other languages aside from Korean and English in improving networking and communications of the foundation. The internship continues to play an important role in the international solidarity work of the foundation so it should be maintained.
The foundation also encouraged the interns participation to international conferences and other workshops held in Gwangju such as the 2nd UNESCO Asian Youth Forum and the 2008 Asian Youth Culture Camp. The interns for this year were given this privilege which is a good opportunity for them to link and network with other youth organizations and learn from those conferences.
As part of interns integration to a new culture and environment they were provided an opportunity to learn Korean language at the Gwangju International Center (GIC). The GIC and other support centers or groups such as church or host family were also introduced to them. Volunteering to groups is deemed useful as well so they can fully maximize their weekends and other free time. Prof. young-im Kim who runs the KONA Book Center is a very-wiling-host family for Din while Ria made close friends at the Catholic church. Interns were able to learn more about Gwangju and Korean culture in this way.
Related link::
http://518interns.blogspot.com/2008/02/new-interns-for-2008.html
Friday, December 19, 2008
Universal Human Rights Day In Gwangju
There were two programmes:
1. 4 PM – 7 PM
The programmes include Christmas exhibition of human rights where pictures and other creative materials adorned Christmas trees. Different organizations distributed books, showed human rights films, etc. There were 22 organizations invited, among them The May 18 Memorial Foundation, Gwangju International Center (GIC), etc. The Foundation put materials (books, CD, pencils, etc) as present for those who would write about human rights and democracy. Other organizations also have souvenirs for their guests.
2. 7 PM – 9 PM
Commemorative event and Cultural performances.
Each delegate from each organization put a Christmas ball to the four Christmas trees on the stage. It is a symbol their involvement in the struggle on human rights, democracy, and peace. The opening performance was presented by Korean theatre group ‘Sin Myeong’. They performed a theatre and dance number where theme was about pluralism on human rights.
Part of the commemorative event presented was the recitation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Cultural performances presented were of various kind of entertainments, there were Drama ‘A Special Bravery’, Congratulatory Poem, Accordion Performance, Creative Masked Dance Performance ‘So Mae’, Various Drum Performances, Accappella performances by children and their mentors , and Youth Musical ‘The Things We want’.
There were also supplement performances which are Fusion Percussion ‘Speeding’ and congratulatory performance.
Among the cultural performances, there was a National costume show from different Asian countries like Korea, China, Singapore, Japan, etc. It depicted the pluralism in the world even in Gwangju. As a hub Asian culture, Gwangju includes people from other countries (Philippines, China, Thailand, Cambodia, Indonesia, United States of America, etc).
There was a drama presented by school students, the theme was economic problem especially in South Korea. Students have to study hard and find part time job to get money. It describes the situation of life at the present.
In the middle of the program, they showed video messages of Dr. Lenin (India) and Mr.Muneer A. Malik (Pakistan) on human rights day. Dr Lenin is a former winner of the 2007 Gwangju Prize for Human Rights and Mr.Muneer A.Malik is the 2008 winner. There were also messages from different citizens of Gwangju.
On a message on the 60th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by the Laureates of the Gwangju Prize for Human Rights Award, they call for dignity and justice for all. They ask for stronger solidarity among civil society groups and leaders both local and international to protect the freedom and rights of all people especially the marginalized sectors in the society.
The program was finished at around 10 PM. Everyone went back home with their new spirit of democracy. Let’s us put high respect on pluralism and democracy, and abolished all kinds of discriminations!
Happy a human rights day.
By. Gregoria Barbarica K.R.
December 16, 2008
Link:
www. 518.org
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
60th Anniversary of UDHR Statement of Gwangju Prize for Human Rights Laureates
Please visit and check these links:
Gwangju Prize Winners' Statement - http://518.org/eng/html/main.html?act=dtl&TM18MF=05020000&idx=413&page=1
Mr. Muneer Malik's Message - http://518.org/eng/html/main.html?act=dtl&TM18MF=05020000&idx=412&page=1
Dr. Lenin Raghuvanshi's Message - http://518.org/eng/html/main.html?act=dtl&TM18MF=05020000&idx=410&page=1
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
The land of dying kids
| Farzand Ahmed | ||
| Lucknow, November 10, 2008 | ||
| Dhannipur at the outskirts of Shivnagari in Varanasi is a name that has become synonymous with painful death of children due to malnutrition. It's also a name that presents a pathetic picture of a stone-hearted administration. This became more than clear when frail and dangerously underweight Ishrat breathed his last on Saturday. Ishrat was the twelfth child to die of acute malnutrition in recent months. The two-year-old Ishrat suffering from grade-4 protein-energy malnutrition had weighed hardly 3.2 kg when he died. 'By administration's own admission there were 106 children suffering from severe malnutrition in Dhannipur alone. This is happening because auxiliary health staff assigned to look after the children do not visit the area. 30 quintals of grains meant for distribution among the poor weavers of the village was lying undistributed till Ishrat breathed his last', said Dr Lenin Raghuvanshi of People's Vigilance Committee for Human Rights (PVCHR). Just before that two-year-old Shaheena Parveen weighing just three kg had gasped to death. A few days before Shaheena collapsed, her neighbour, two-year-old Sahabuddin, weighing hardly two kg died. And there were others in the same age and weight-group, who were waiting for painful death. Yet the administration was 'doing it best' to save the children from the cruel jaws of death. Local people say that there was reason for such neglect: they are children of weavers whose looms once used to churn out sparkling silk saris. Today their parents are hardly able to arrange food or medicine because they were unable to be engaged in other manual works. While visiting the village PVCHR, Dr Lenin Raghuvanshi felt 'shocked and ashamed'. He and his team was told that the local administration instead of helping the villagers handed them cards meant for 'above poverty line' people that denies them ration from public distribution system (PDS) Recently the most damning comment came from Bijo Francis of Hong Kong-based Asian Human Rights Commission. He had said Sahabuddin died as he was suffering from grade lll malnutrition (categorized as 'Severe'), a condition that the world hears of in places like Somalia. Yet, he said, Uttar Pradesh is not Somalia (where there is non-functioning govt). 'It has a democratically elected government. It has ministers and secretaries who travel around the state in the name of governance in expensive air-conditioned vehicles. It has a woman chief minister at its helm, who has vowed to eradicate discrimination and poverty in the state. Barely six months before Ishrat died, the Uttar Pradesh government had brought out a first-ever report entitled "State of Children in Uttar Pradesh" and it made a sensational reading. The report a joint effort of state's Planning Department and UNICEF disclosed while Uttar Pradesh is home of 52 per cent of the severely malnourished children the all-India figure was 43. It also revealed that while the percentage of malnutrition among children was just 35 per cent in the least developing world, the figure for Sub-Saharan Africa was meagre 28 per cent. South Asia as whole has 42 per cent compared to 26 per cent in the developing countries. According to the report the government realised that malnutrition significantly impacts living condition of children. Ironically, malnutrition is associated with half of all child deaths and Uttar Pradesh accounts for over 10 million of India's 72 million malnourished children. Majority of the districts, across central, eastern, western and Bundelkhand regions report high prevalence of malnutrition. Besides, the state also has high infant and maternal mortality rate -73 per 1000. Of the 2.5 million children who die in the country every year, close to 4 lakhs die in Uttar Pradesh and every third infant born in the state is under weight - below 1200 grams. But what the 'The State of Children in UP' talks about was shocking to the world as it revealed that majority of state's children lived in the wild world. According to this report Uttar Pradesh accounted for 23 per cent of kidnapping of children at the national level. Incidents of other heinous crimes like murder, rape and infanticide were also found to be equally high in the state, particularly in Western Uttar Pradesh. Uttar Pradesh reported the highest number of murders of children accounting for 39.2 per cent of the total cases reported in the country. A total of 3,542 cases of child rape were reported in the country during 2004 and the state has ranked third amongst other states in this crime. A recent report published by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) showed that between 2003-2004 there was an alarming 24 per cent rise in the crime against children in the country. While the number of such cases was 11,633 in 2003, it rose to 14,423 in 2004. Among the states Madhya Pradesh ranked first with 3,653 cases while UP ranked third with 1,921 cases. However it showed a decline by 10.2 per cent as compared to 2,248 cases during 2004. Uttar Pradesh, according to this report, stood first with 735 reported cases of kidnapping. But the most heinous was the rape of children and Uttar Pradesh reported 394 cases in 2003 accounting 11.12 per cent of the total child rape reported in the country. Uttar Pradesh ranked third among states for child rape cases in 2004-just behind Madhya Pradesh (710 cases) and Maharashtra (634 cases). Like other crimes, incidence of rape was also high in Western Uttar Pradesh. Of the 11 districts that showed high incidence 7 were located in Western Uttar Pradesh. | ||
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Dr. Lenin (Ashoka Fellow and 2007 Gwanju Human Rights Awardee)
Mobile:+91-9935599333
Please visit:
http://www.universalrights.
www.pvchr.org
www.youtube.com/pvchrindia
www.pvchr.blogspot.com
www.sapf.blogspot.com
www.antiwto.blogspot.com
www.rtfcup.blogspot.com
www.dalitwomen.blogspot.com
www.lenin-shruti.blogspot.com
http://www.orkut.com/
