We, the
laureates of the Gwangju Prize for Human Rights and Special Prize representing
democracy and human rights movements in Asia and beyond,
1. Having met
virtually at the first Gwangju Democracy Summit (GDS) on 18 May 2021 on the 41st
anniversary of the Gwangju Democratic Movement,
2. Expressing our deep appreciation to
the May 18 Memorial Foundation for hosting the first Gwangju Democracy Summit
as part of the Gwangju Democracy Forum during the week of May 18 Democratic
Movement (17 to 21 May 2021),
3. Reaffirming the importance of the observance of
international human rights law and democratic and humanitarian principles such
as the rule of law, free and fair election, protection of minorities and
accountable governance,
4. Emphasizing on equal and effective
access to justice through legislative, judicial and administrative measures
implemented through functioning institutions,
5. Emphasizing on the
importance of transitional justice to address state violence, impunity and
related past human rights violations in a timely manner to restore the dignity
of and justice for the victims according to the applicable international law
and principles,
6. Deeply concerned about the worrying phenomenon of
religious and violent extremism as well as emerging authoritarianism and
totalitarianism in the forms of mafia and fascist states,
7. Deeply concerned about the shrinking civic space and
eroding democratic values and norms during the response and recovery from the
COVID-19 pandemic,
8. Deeply
concerned about the failure of many governments in Asia in protecting and
respecting the human rights of human rights defenders and advocates from gross
human rights violations such as torture, extra-judicial killings, enforced
disappearances, denial of a fair trial, violent suppression of freedoms of
speech, association and assembly, abuse of administrative detention, and other
harsh measures,
9.
Condemning
the military junta of Myanmar that has committed the brutal massacre of
numerous civilians since the illegal military coup on 1 February 2021,
10.
Condemning also masculinity driven militarist traditions
used as a weapon of war and conflict, especially all forms of violence against
women and the crime against humanity like genocide against Rohingya people,
11.
Condemning also all other
authoritarian governments that committed gross and systemic human rights
violations, and failed to protect the citizens and specially vulnerable people
and minorities against all forms of violence and discriminations, in
particular, the rejection of holding the legitimate
elections in Bangladesh, the ruthless extrajudicial killings in the
Philippines, the denial of minority rights in India, judicial harassment in Thailand and the denial of Indonesian
authority to solve the mass killings including the genocide in 1965/66,
12.
Urging all the
countries, in particular those who have the capacity to produce vaccine against
the COVID-19, to cooperate to waive intellectual property rights to allow equal
and timely access to the vaccine by all peoples through the COVAX Facility, in
particular to countries in need of urgent assistance,
13. Urging democratic governments to work together more
closely to play a collective leadership role by taking timely action to defend
democracy and support civil society and democratic movements internationally,
14. Urging international organizations and meetings such
as the ASEAN, ASEAN+3 and Asia Europe Meeting (ASEM) to play their role for the
defense and promotion of democracy and human rights in accordance with
international norms,
15. Urging the relevant bodies of the UN such as the UN
Human Rights Council, Security Council and Peacebuilding Commission (PBC), as
well as UN Secretary General to take appropriate actions according to their
mandates to defend and promote democracy, human rights and peace,
16. Reaffirming our solidarity with all
democracy and human rights advocates in Asia and beyond, especially those who
have continued to struggle for their basic human rights and fundamental
freedoms, as well as for democracy,
17. Calling for international solidarity and
support to provide protection to the victims of human rights violations
economically, socially and medically,
Commit
to defend and advance democracy to the best of our capacity in our own country,
Asia and beyond in a more proactive way as a Network of the Laureates of the Gwangju
Prize for Human Rights and Special Prize (NLG) in partnership with all
democracy and human rights advocates and defenders as well as their
organizations everywhere.
18
May 2021
