• Title: An Answer to Global Crisis – Collaboration and Solidarity
• Thematic Clusters
  • Defining an Incomplete Transitional Justice
  • Covid 19 and Democracy
  • Democracy in Asia - Prospects for 2022
• Date: May 17 ~ May 21, 2022
• Venue: Kimdaejung Convention Center in Gwangju
• Modality: In-Person, Virtual, and Hybrid
• Language: Eng.-Kor. Simultaneous Interpretation
• Host: The May 18 Memorial Foundation
• Co-organizer: The May 18 Memorial Foundation, Asia Centre, Asia Democracy Network (ADN), Asia Justice and Rights (AJAR), Cambodian Human Rights and Development Association (ADHOC), Confederation of Indonesia People Movement(KPRI), Human Rights Development Centre(HRDC), INHRED, Jeonbuk National University Institute for Southeast Asian Studies (JISEAS), Korea Video Journalist Association, People‘s Empowerment Foundation, Pyeong Chang Youth Peace Ambassadors 2022, YPKP65

The global pandemic has continued for three years, and it seems that there is still no way out. The omicron variant has disrupted normalization and delayed the end of the coronavirus crisis. Each country’s countermeasures to prioritize its citizens and international pharmaceutical companies’ competitive attitude have caused difficulties in resolving the problem. At the same time, this has made it hard to deliver humanitarian aid to developing countries, which aggravates inequality in dealing with challenges following the pandemic.

In addition, the severity of the climate crisis is affecting everywhere in both the southern and northern hemispheres, and incidents caused by natural disasters occur at any time and place. At the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) held last year in Glasgow, the international community finally confirmed that the use of fossil fuels endangered our environment and agreed upon reducing them. We encounter a difficult task ahead as we not only support developing countries in overcoming the climate crisis but also promote a sustainable energy system. It is not easy to overcome these overlapping crises even if we all unite through cooperation and coexistence. Under a revival of the Cold War with an aggravated tension between the US and China-called G1 and G2- and Russia’s recent invasion into Ukraine, which triggered a new US-Russia conflict, the possibility of brutal wars has become spread everywhere on the globe. The aftermath of such international conflicts will cause a refugee crisis and hinder the stable development of democracy.

The May 18 Memorial Foundation in Gwangju, commemorating the 42nd anniversary of the May 18 Democratic Uprising, will convene the Gwangju Democracy Forum both in-person and online from May 17 to May 21, 2022, in which we will discuss the aforementioned challenges, seek potential solutions, and develop effective countermeasures. With the participation of experts, we will also discuss the adverse effect of the coronavirus crisis on democracy, the climate crisis, and appropriate policies for tackling such problems. Additionally, we would like to address the contemporary situations in various countries across Asia, including the crisis in Myanmar (i.e., severe human rights violations and a threat to democracy in Myanmar), along with possible countermeasures. The Gwangju Democracy Forum is jointly organized with partner organizations and includes independent sessions.

At the keynote session opening the Forum on May 19, experts will speak about session topics for two days during the forum. Specifically, under the title of “An Answer to Global Crisis - Collaboration and Solidarity,” speakers will address the crisis of democracy caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the current situation, prospects, and the potential solution to the regression of democracy in Asian countries, including Myanmar.

On November 23, 2021, Doo-Hwan Chun, the former South Korean military dictator, died without admitting what he committed against the Gwangju people and apologizing for the 1980 massacre in Gwangju. The responsibility for responding to the unresolved issues of the Gwangju massacre has been left to survivors. Following the death of Chun, the May 18 Memorial Foundation established a plan to reorganize the remaining tasks and future activities for transitional justice. Meanwhile, the May 18 Democratization Movement Truth Commission is actively conducting its investigation of the May 18 Democratic Uprising. The 2022 Gwangju Democracy Forum intends to cover the following topics.

In Gwangju, South Korea, the May 18 Memorial Foundation will provide a space for transnational solidarity against state violence, genocide, and enforced disappearance. Together with Asia Justice and Rights (AJAR), the Gwangju Democracy Forum will invite those who work in the sector of civil society in each country to talk about transitional justice and historical reckoning.

Investigation for Truth Unveiling, Restoration and System Reform, and the Importance of Memorialization and Consideration About Healing
Organizer INHRED

Transitional Justice About State Violence in Bangladesh and Pakistan and Traditional Discrimination Against Minorities in South Asia
Organizer Human Rights Development Centre (HRDC)

Uncompleted Transitional Justice of 1965-66 Indonesian Massacres
Organizer YPKP 65

The global pandemic of the last three years has left many wounds. The unprecedented massive death toll caused by the COVID-19 and aftereffects of the incomplete vaccine have resulted in a heavy price. It seems that there is still no way out of this ongoing crisis. We have not been able to travel freely across borders, and the pandemic has made it difficult to have material and intellectual communication and exchange. Additionally, the following economic crisis has left many workers unemployed. However, the most severe aftereffect is the inequality in having access to vaccines for the COVID-19. Numerous people with mild symptoms have passed away in developing countries with vulnerable health and sanitation systems. In addition, the citizens of poor countries with precarious healthcare systems have suffered from demanding access to health services. Inequality during the pandemic has been ongoing. Peace and coexistence on the global level have lost meaning and become useless with the unprecedented pandemic and the selfish approach of the pharmaceutical companies based on nationalism in the powerful nations. The Gwangju Democracy Forum aims to create a space to discuss the relationship between COVID-19 and democracy. Furthermore, in the session, we will discuss to whom we need to require to hold accountability for aggravating poverty and disease over the past three years, the effects of the pandemic on democracy, and potential solutions in a civil society.

Organizer Confederation of Indonesia People Movement (KPRI)

Whether the directions for policy development are inclusive and multilateral greatly influences the development of democracy. In addition, the global pandemic offers governments with no legitimacy a good excuse to regress democracy through inappropriate and illegal actions. The May 18 Memorial Foundation took a look at the democracy of each country in Asia during the 2019 Gwangju Asia Forum. This year, the Gwangju Democracy Forum will discuss the situation in each of these countries again. Furthermore, the forum will provide a space to discuss specific ways and solidarity plans in detail to have practical effects for the civil society sector, which will be invited by organizations that maintain existing solidarity networks.

- Organizer: Jeonbuk National University Institute for Southeast Asian Studies (JISEAS)

- Organizer: Asia Centre

- Organizer: Pyeong Chang Youth Peace Ambassador 2022

A huge media wall will be set up at the May 18 Democratic Square to introduce news, and videos related to the current situation in Myanmar and the May 18 Democratic Uprising during the 2022 GDF from May 16 to 21, 2022. And [May Memorial Tunnel] will display photos of a laureate of the 2022 Gwangju Prize for Human Rights(GPHR). People can see the GPHR laureate’s activities at a glance walking through the tunnel.