20th
Gwangju Asia Forum 2016
Gwangju Asia Forum is an annual event of the May 18 Memorial Foundation
and this year it was held under the big theme named “State Violence and
Historical Distortion” in Korea. The especial Guest of the Gwangju Asia Forum
was a human right and Ex-President Timor-Leste, Mr. Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão , he also previously received the Gwangju Prize of
Human rights. There were a number of sub-events under this bigger theme. These sub-themes are under below.
1:
Gwangju Prize for Human Rights 2016 (GPHR)
2:
The Solidarity for Democratization Movements in
Asia (SDMA)
3: The
Solidarity for Social Justice (SFSJ)
4: Grass-root
Session workshop
1: Gwangju Prize
for Human Rights 2016:
The Gwangju Prize for Human Rights is an award given by May 18 Memorial Foundation to
recognize "individuals, groups or institutions in Korea and abroad that
have contributed in promoting and advancing human
rights, democracy, and peace through
their work.
This year the GPHR award was awarded to basis
a)
Organization basis, this year Bersih (NGO) from Malaysia
Bersih has been calling for law
reforms on free and fair elections since 2010 through peaceful campaigns.
Approximately 500,000 people in 65 countries around the world joined the latest
Bersih solidarity protests in 2015. 2016 Gwangju Prize for Human Rights is
awarded to Bersih due to their constant struggle for human rights and democracy
in Malaysia.
b)
Person basis: Dr. Que Ann from Vietnam
Dr. Que`s quest
for freedom for his people and the
persecution he has suffered have inspired men and women around the world to
speak out on his behalf. Among them, the Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Center for
Human Rights presented Dr. Que with the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Award.
Inspired by his courage and his persistent determination to fight for a free
and democratic Vietnam, the US Congress honored him by passing Joint Resolution
SJ 168. President Clinton subsequently signed it into Public Law: 103- 258
designating May 11 as Vietnam Human Rights Day.
2: The Solidarity
for Democratization Movements in Asia (SDMA)
SDMA is a highly
innovative network of the Asian NGOs and this year the main theme of SDMA was “How
to claim shrinking Democratic Space in Asia”. The May 18 Memorial Foundation invited
participants from the Bangladesh, Maldives, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Philippines,
Nepal, Myanmar, Thailand, and
participants shared their countries status regarding democratic and human
rights situation. The SDMA participants urged their governments they should
follow the ICCPR and UDHR. Thus, the common people can enjoy and fruits of
democracy and human rights. End of the SDMA session it issue a statement too.
3: The
Solidarity for Social Justice (SFSJ)
The SFSJ is one of the new initiates
of the May 18 Memorial Foundation and it mainly provides
space to discuss the criminal Justice
system in Asia and it flaws. Most
participants came from the Asia and South Asia. The South Asian participants
from Pakistan, Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Philippines shared the almost same
situation. Most of the countries judicial
and criminal institutions have decade old system, it several flaws and corrupt,
so common people unable to get benefit from it.
4:
Grass-roots organization workshop
The May 18 Memorial Foundation,
first time invited Asian grass-root organizations and provide them a platform to share their activities with Korean
partners. End of the workshop the Foundation provide them laptops and small
funds to support their activities.
Gwangju Asia Forum was my first
assignment at May 18 Memorial Foundation, which I mainly coordinated and mainly
involve in the arrangements of the international participants. Through this activity, I (Shahnawaz) and Rini worked on the
development of the concept of the SDMA. Further, I also lead the Grassroots
organization workshop 2016. It is amazing and great chance from to meet with
several NGO and human rights activists and it was really wonderful learning
step for me. I am really happy that with the great
support of my partner Rini International intern, we both successfully done it.
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