Efforts for the Development of Global Democracy and Human Rights Promotion
Gwangju Prize for Human Rights
Gwangju Prize for Human Rights
'5·18 Citizens' Award' and 'Yoon Sang-won Award' were integrated to inherit their purposes and to honor individuals or organizations, both domestically and internationally, who have made significant contributions to human rights, unification, and global peace. The prize was established in 2000 to widely propagate the spirit of the May 18 Democratic Uprising. Since 2011, the Gwangju Prize for Human Rights Special Prize has been newly established to recognize individuals who have worked for the promotion of human rights and democracy every two years, including journalists, cultural artists, writers, and others who support and sponsor them. The award ceremony for the Gwangju Prize for Human Rights is held annually on May 18th.
- Award Background
- '5·18 Citizens' Award' and 'Yoon Sang-won Award'
'5·18 Citizens' Award' was established in 1991 by the May 18 Bereaved Families' Association with the aim of nationalizing May 18. It annually awarded individuals unrelated to May 18 among those who have made efforts for the clarification of the May 18 truth. On the other hand, the 'Yoon Sang-won Award' was established in 1980 to commemorate Yoon Sang-won, a spokesperson for the May 18 uprising, by Gwangju locals and bereaved families who organized a memorial project. It awarded individuals or organizations who made efforts for the resolution of the May 18 issue, despite continuous oppression. In 1998, the '5·18 Citizens' Award' and the 'Yoon Sang-won Award' were transferred to the May 18 Memorial Foundation to expand the scope of recipients internationally and enhance their prestige. - 'Integration Discussions and Establishment of the Gwangju Prize for Human Rights'
In August 1999, various award organizations related to the May 18 Democratic Uprising held a meeting to integrate various awards related to the uprising to enhance their prestige. As a result, it was decided to integrate the '5·18 Citizens' Award' and the 'Yoon Sang-won Award.' In the first board meeting of the May 18 Memorial Foundation in 2000, the name and award regulations related to the Gwangju Prize for Human Rights were finalized, and the first award project began.
- '5·18 Citizens' Award' and 'Yoon Sang-won Award'
Past Winners of the Gwangju Prize for Human Rights (Including Joint Winners and Special Prizes)
| 2023 | Chou Wuhang - Hong Kong |
- Constantly resisted the unfair and unjust treatment by the government towards human rights advocates as a human rights lawyer - Organized the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre victims' commemorative candlelight vigil, continuing the struggle for democracy in Hong Kong |
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| (Special Prize) Iran Teachers' Labor Union Committee - Iran |
- Devoted to democracy and human rights in Iran through education in adverse conditions - Fought against continued oppression for the right to receive quality public education, changes in conservative education policies, improvement of educational spaces, improvement of teachers' living conditions, and the right to teach various ethnic languages and literatures in Iran |
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| 2022 | Syia Maung - Myanmar |
- Participated in the 8888 Uprising and immigrated to the border area of Myanmar to escape the repression by the Myanmar military, founding the Mettao Hospital in 1989 - Provided medical support and basic health services, medical training, education, and child protection services for refugees in the border area for over 30 years - Played a central role in Thai-Myanmar border civil society organizations and provided support for refugees continually entering Myanmar |
| 2021 | Anon Nampha - Thailand |
- Provided free legal support for individuals referred to military courts as a human rights lawyer - Co-founded the 'Resistant Citizen,' a anti-dictatorship pro-democracy movement organization, to raise awareness of human rights abuses against the authoritarian regime in 2014 - Ignited the spark of the Thai pro-democracy movement by demanding a monarchy reform in a large-scale protest in July 2020 |
| (Special Prize) Watchdog Documentary Maker - Indonesia |
- Produced documentaries related to the democracy movement since its establishment in 2009 - Produced over 200 documentary series and over 700 TV series to highlight human rights issues in Indonesia and greatly contributed to promoting human rights |
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| 2020 | Bedjo Uunthong - Indonesia |
- Despite imprisonment and threats to life by the authoritarian regime |
| 2019 | Joanna Carino - Philippines |
- Abandoned stable status as a university professor during the Marcos dictatorship in the Philippines to devote her lifetime to democracy and indigenous rights - Founded Cordillera Peoples' Alliance (CPA), a group of people imprisoned for their democratic struggles - Established Moro Indigenous Solidarity (SANDUGO) to promote indigenous rights to self-determination - Continues active involvement despite ongoing threats from government agencies |
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| (Special Prize) Daulat Tiarra Choir - Indonesia |
- Women's choir composed of victims and families of victims of the Indonesian anti-communist massacre - Through choir activities, worked to publicly bring out the tragic Indonesian history for reconciliation and healing - Conveys messages of peace and solidarity to the world through songs beyond Indonesia |
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| 2018 | Sister Nandana Manatunga - Sri Lanka |
- Advocated for victims of state violence such as torture and enforced disappearances in Sri Lanka - Contributed to the expansion of the Sri Lanka Human Rights Platform by advocating for judicial reform movements, expanding networks of clergy for human rights, and initiating alliances for justice |
| 2017 | Chaturapat Pundaraksa - Thailand |
- Despite human rights violations and numerous threats and detentions by the authoritarian regime since 2015, led the student movement against the military government - Chaturapat's activities dedicated to the democracy and human rights movement have inspired many human rights activists and citizens longing for a democratic society beyond national borders - Arrested in December 2016 and charged with violating the Lèse-majesté law and Computer Crime Act in February 2017 |
| (Special Prize) Sergio Bambara - Burkina Faso |
- Engaged in social transformation movements and changes throughout Africa through music - Established the organization Citizen's Broom with fellow artists to participate in social movements |
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| 2016 | Nguyen Dan Que - Vietnam |
- Struggled for democracy and human rights against the Vietnamese government's practice of neglecting the health of the poor and selectively treating Communist Party members - Awarded the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Prize in 1994 |
| BERSIH 2.0 - Malaysia |
- Malaysian citizen organization - BERSIH 2.0 was the first in Malaysia to advocate for electoral reform and presented a national reform proposal including eight demands - Raised the issue of election fraud in Malaysian politics and organized large-scale rallies to provoke awareness of human rights among the younger generation |
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| 2015 | Latifah Anum Siregar - Indonesia |
- Human rights lawyer conducting peace movements in conflict areas of West Papua, Indonesia |
| (Special Prize) Somphors Somphon - Laos |
- Agricultural scientist and community activist - Awarded the Magsaysay Award in 2005 and worked to relieve rural poverty - Disappeared in front of a Laotian police station on December 15, 2012, and remains missing to this day |
| 2014 | Mothers of Khavaran - Iran |
- Formed by people who lost family members during the large-scale human rights violations by the Iranian authorities in 1988 at Khavaran Cemetery - despite the Iranian government's non-response - mothers' persistent demand for truth led to changes such as disclosure of anti-regime executions - clarification of government involvement, expansion of human rights activists' activities, and improvement of trial procedures |
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| Adilur Rahman Khan - Bangladesh |
- Devoted to safeguarding the constitution and enacting human rights laws in Bangladesh - Founded Odhikar, a human rights organization, and dedicated to advocacy and promotion of human rights - Played a leading role in opposing human rights abuses in the South Asian region such as extrajudicial executions, enforced disappearances, and torture by law enforcement agencies through domestic and international solidarity activities |
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| 2013 | H.I.J.O.S - Argentina |
Comprised of young people who actively participate in the organization by sharing their purposes and political practices with the children of people who were disappeared, executed, or imprisoned for political reasons or who had to go into exile due to the oppression of the military dictatorship from 1976 to 1983 |
| (Special Prize) Tempo Magazine - Indonesia |
- A weekly magazine that delivers political and general news in Indonesia, first published on March 6, 1971 - Hamoko, the Minister of Information, under the instructions of President Suharto, banned it for a long time, citing "a threat to political stability" - Established itself as the most influential and respected magazine in Indonesia |
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| 2012 | Moon Jeong-hyeon - South Korea |
A Catholic priest known as the 'Street Priest,' who has stood with and shared the suffering of people who are oppressed and marginalized throughout his life |
| 2011 | Binayak Sen - India |
- Resisted unjust state violence and suffered imprisonment under India's draconian security laws, he was incarcerated in May 2007 - Designated as a prisoner of conscience by Amnesty International, he was serving a life sentence for sedition charges, but was released on bail on April 18, 2011 |
| (Special Prize) Parents Circle-Families Forum - Israel, Palestine |
- Formed in 1995 by around 500 families who lost family members through the Israel-Palestine conflict - Views the sharing of stories and experiences among families as an important step towards peace and strives for the resolution of various human rights issues related to it |
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| 2010 | Sushil Pyakurel - Nepal |
- Fought against the undemocratic and oppressive rule of the absolute monarchy in Nepal while striving for the peaceful resolution of the conflict - Organized the Informal Sector Service Centre (INSEC) for the promotion of human rights of the Nepali people - Dedicated to the growth of human rights in Nepal as the chairman of the National Human Rights Commission of Nepal from 2000 to 2005 |
| 2009 | Min Ko Naing - Burma (Myanmar) |
- Served as chairman of the All Burma Federation of Student Union, founded to fight against the illegal military regime in 1987, played a leading role in the 8888 Uprising on August 8, 1988 - Despite advocating nonviolence and peaceful struggle, he was sentenced to 65 years in prison on charges of organizing the decisive march that led to the Saffron Revolution in 2007, but was released in January 2012 |
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| 2008 | Asma Jahangir Malik - Pakistan |
- Jailed in 1981 on charges of anti-government activities - In 2007, resisted the dismissal attempt of the Chief Justice by President Musharraf to fight for the independence of the judiciary and human rights - Continued to fight for the independence of Pakistan's judiciary and press freedom despite attacks by armed thugs, office closures, and harsh imprisonment |
| 2007 | Irom Sharmila Chanu - India |
- Started a hunger strike on November 2, 2000, against the indiscriminate use of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act on civilians - Arrested by the Indian government under the charge of 'attempted suicide' in accordance with the law, forcibly fed, released, and repeatedly arrested for violating related laws |
| Lennin Rajuwanit - India |
- Ran education centers and provided support to torture victims in five northern states of India, educating numerous children - Brought hope to indigenous tribal people suffering human rights abuses due to India's caste system |
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| 2006 | Ankhana Nilapaijit - Thailand |
- Wife of human rights lawyer Somchai Nilapaijit, who was forcibly disappeared by the Thai police in 2003 - Despite frequent death threats, she worked to uncover the truth about her husband's fate and ultimately brought punishment to the relevant police officers - Transformed into a human rights activist, engaging in truth-finding and prevention activities for victims of state violence |
| Malalai Joya - Afghanistan |
- Elected as a member of the Afghan parliament through the support of the local people at the age of 24 - Led the forefront of national reconstruction, courageously criticizing her country's problems through public speeches, inspiring many despite facing threats to her life multiple times, and has been active ever since |
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| 2005 | Warda Hafidz - Indonesia |
- Organized the Urban Poor Consortium (UPC) in Jakarta, Indonesia in 1997 to ensure the rights of urban poor and participate in social policy formulation for them - As a leader in the Muslim women's movement, organized numerous human rights lawyers to create a movement to resist injustice |
| 2004 | Aung San Suu Kyi - Myanmar Revoked on 2018.12.17. |
- Aung San Suu Kyi, who held influential political positions in Myanmar since 2015, passively overlooked human rights abuses and atrocities against the Rohingya. - On 2018.12.17., the decision to revoke Aung San Suu Kyi's Gwangju Prize for Human Rights was made due to her serious violation of the spirit of establishing the Gwangju Prize for Human Rights, which upholds democracy and human rights. Press Release on Revocation |
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| 2003 | Dr. Jeyakumari Balendran Daniel - Sri Lanka |
- Demanded fair treatment for workers, struggled against unjust power for the investigation of the truth behind the disappearance and murder of her fiancé. - Since 1991, she has been organizing memorial ceremonies for the disappeared, leading the Women Workers Union, and founding the Disappeared Persons Commemoration and Freedom Trade Zone Labor Union, contributing greatly to the democratization of Sri Lanka and raising awareness of state violence worldwide. |
| 2002 | National Coalition for Civil Liberties and Democracy - South Korea |
- Formed by families of victims and those suspiciously killed during the military dictatorship in South Korea to demand democratization and the protection of people's right to life during the military dictatorship. - Actively pursued a truth-finding campaign on suspicious deaths and played a significant role in passing the 'Act on Special Cases Concerning the Establishment and Operation of the Truth-Finding Special Committee' and the 'Act on the Restoration of Honor and Compensation for Victims of Democracy Movement' in the National Assembly. |
| 2001 | Basill Fernando - Sri Lanka |
- Quitting his career as a lawyer after 10 years, he served as the UN Refugee Legal Officer in Vietnam and the Director of the UN Human Rights Center in Cambodia, devoting himself to the advancement of human rights in Asia. - Led the establishment of the 'Asia Human Rights Declaration' in 1998, laying the groundwork for Gwangju to be recognized as a leader in human rights in Asia and making a decisive contribution to promoting Gwangju's image as a city of human rights and peace worldwide. |
| 2000 | Xanana Gusmão - East Timor |
- Former leader of the East Timor independence movement and politician. - Organized the frontline of the East Timor independence struggle immediately after the Indonesian military forcibly occupied East Timor in 1975, leading a large-scale armed struggle for independence. - Made efforts to garner international support and attention during the independence process and worked for the restoration of democracy and human rights in his country. - Winner of the 1999 Saharov Prize for Human Rights. |
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