‘2010 GWANGJU ASIA FORUM’

17th ~ 23rd May

⧠ The History of the Gwangju Asia Forum

The first May event was held in 1999 as a joint gathering of organizations supporting victims of national violence in Asia. The meeting continued to grow in scale until in 2004 it was renamed Gwangju International Peace Camp. The camp included not only victims’support organizations but also human rights experts, pro-democracy activists, academics from relevant fields and other movement representatives from across Asia. The May event has become a valuable opportunity for activists to exchange and network with one another in workshops relating to peace, human rights and democracy. This year is of particular significance since 2010 marks the 30th Anniversary of the May 18 Democratic Uprising.

⧠ Past Program (1999~2009)

⧠ Theme and Contents of the Forum

The theme of 2010 GAF is 'Asia: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow', which provides us with the opportunity to examine and tackle social issues in Asia through seven workshops, including international democracy, environmental and climate change problems, peace resolution, and human rights issues in Asia. By confronting these issues, the workshops aim to address Asian society's current problems through comprehensive examination of civil society alternatives.

The Forum includes the Annual Festival on the Eve of May 18, (17th), and the 30th Anniversary Commemorative and Ceremony Gwangju Prize for Human Rights Award Ceremony (18th): participant-managed event will begin on 19th.

⧠ Forum Overview

⧠ Introduction to Main Workshops

❍International Workshop on Asian Democracy and Human Rights

⦁Date: May 19th, 20th, 2010

⦁Organizers: FORUM-ASIA, PSPD, ARENA, KISEAS

⦁Venue: Kim Dae Jung Convention Center, Convention Hall (4F)

⦁Objective: Acknowledging the status of human rights and democracy in Asia, discussing about the conditions that prevent human rights and democracy in Asia from being protected and improved, the strategy and cooperative responsibilities that civil societies in Asia are facing with when it comes to promoting democracy and human rights.

❍ Asian Housing Benefits

⦁Date: May 19th, 20th

⦁Organizers: Citizens for Decent Housing, Asian Bridge

⦁Venue: Kim Dae Jung Convention Center 201

⦁Objective: Aiming to advance adequate housing and to prepare gradual solutions in accordance with each country's characteristics

❍ Local Government Human Rights Ordinance Enactment

⦁Date: May 19th, 20th

⦁Organizers: Gwangju Regional Office of NHRC of Korea

⦁Venue: Kim Dae Jung Convention Center 202, 203

⦁Objective: Every year since 2008 workshops have been organized in order to share various movements' concerns and methods for establishing a human rights Local Government Ordinance Enactment, starting with the first workshop. This workshops aims to share results and understand the problems of Human Rights Ordinance Enactment in each region and department, and to seek further effective courses for establishing an Ordinance Enactment and plans for the network.

❍ Empowering Human Rights of Migrant Workers in Northeast Asia

⦁Date: May 19th~20th

⦁Organizers: Migrant Workers' Labour Movement Association, Gwangju Migrant Workers' Center

⦁Venue: Kim Dae Jung Convention Center 206

⦁Objective: Capacity building of migrant activities amid growing interest in migrant worker's human rights in Northeast Asia, sharing common migrant issues and pursuing solutions using UN human rights systems.

❍ Asia Free Media Forum

⦁Date: May 19th

⦁Organizers: Asia Network, Association of Journalists Dismissed in the 1980s, Journalists Association of Korea, Journalists Association of Gwangju & Jeonnam

⦁Venue: Kim Dae Jung Convention Center 207

⦁Objective: sharing democracy and freedom of the press in Asia, discussing the status of crackdownn on freedom of the press by the military regime in the 1980s and issues of the neo-liberalizm era, and pursuing cooperative solutions to free media.

❍ Asia Environment Forum : 'Climate Change and Asia, Environmental Refugees and Solidarity'

⦁Date: May 19th

⦁Organizers: Korea Federation for Environmental Movements Gwangju

⦁Venue: Kim Dae Jung Convention Center 208, 209

⦁Objective: Acknowledging the status of the development field in Asia, establishing the definition of 'environment' through solidarity among civil societies

❍ Workshop for Peace in Northeast Asia and Inter-Korean Relations

⦁Date: May 19th

⦁Organizers: Movement for One Corea

⦁Venue: Kim Dae Jung Convention Center 210

⦁Objective: Understanding how Korea's neighbour countries, Japan and China acknowledge inter-Korean relations and peace in Northeast Asia through field experts

❍ Korean Emigrants' May 18 Democratic Uprising 30th Anniversary Commemorative Event

⦁Date: May 20th

⦁Organizers: Yoon Han Bong Memorial Foundation

⦁Venue: Kim Dae Jung Convention Center 204

⦁Objective: Commemorating the spirit of Yoon Han Bong promoting democracy through democratization movements by Korean emigrants in the U.S. and Europe

□ Exchange Meetings organized by The May 18 Memorial Foundation

❍ Exchange Meeting for Democracy and Human rights in East Asia(May 19th, 13:30~15:00)

⦁Purpose: This annual event, which has been running since the Gwangju International Peace Forum in 2008, aims to share the contents, common understanding and purpose of each organization's key programs.

⦁Participating organizations : The Memorial Foundation of 228, Korea Democracy Foundation, Busan Democratic Memorial Association, Jeju 4·3 Research Institute, The May 18 Memorial Foundation

❍ International Peace and Human Rights Organizations Exchange Meeting(19th 15:00~17:00)

⦁Purpose: Sharing the programs of international organizations advocating peace and human rights, introducing Gwangju Asia Forum, cooperating to draft a plan for development of regular networking in the future.

⦁Participating organizations: Amnesty International, Peking Univ. Law School, Center for Human Rights and Development, The May 18 Memorial Foundation, Korea Democracy Foundation (visiting organization)

❍ Gwangju Prize Laureates Presentation Workshop (20th 12:30~14:30)

⦁Purpose: Presentations by Gwangju Prize for Human Rights winners' on their activities since winning the prize

⦁Participating winners: Basil Fernando, Angkhana Neelaphaijit, Malalai Joya, Lenin Raghuvanishi (total 4 people), plus recorded presentations and message by absentees