The Gwangju Prize for Human Rights
The Gwangju Prize for Human Rights (GPHR) was established in 2000 to succeed in the meaning of the May 18 Citizens Award and Yoon Sang-won Award. Its purpose is to promote the spirit of the May 18 Democratization Movement. Selected individuals and organizations who have contributed significantly to the development of human rights, unification, solidarity, and peace of mankind are awarded. Moreover, Gwangju Prize for Human Rights Special Prize (GPHRSP) was established in 2011 to be awarded biennially to individuals and organizations who support and sponsor people working in journalism, culture, literature, and other fields for improving human rights, democracy, and peace. GPHR award ceremony will be held on May 18 annually.
Background of awarding
- The enactment of the May 18 Citizens Award and the Yoon Sang-won Award
- To make known the truth of the May 18 democratic uprising all over the nation, the May 18 Citizens Award was established by the Korea Association of Bereaved Families for Democracy in 1991. It was awarded to individuals or organizations who tried to probe the truth on May 18, 1980, not directly involved in the May 18 democratic uprising. Its award ceremony was held on May 18 with the memorial ceremony. On the other hand, Yoon Sang-won Award was made to look back upon Yoon Sang-won as the leader of the resistance who died for democracy at the old Jeollanam-do provincial Hall on May 27, 1980. The local influentials and the families of the deceased set up a fund to award individuals and organizations who tried to solve the problems during the May 18 democratic uprising. The May 18 Citizens Award and Yoon Sang-won Award were transferred to the May 18 Foundation to expand the range of laureates and enhance the value of the spirit of the May 18 democratic uprising.
- Integrating two awards and the enactment of GPHR
- In 1999, there was a meeting hosted by the principal agents related to awarding the prizes, for example, the May 18 Citizens Award, Yoon Sang-won Award, Park Kwan-won Award, and the May Justice Award, etc. They aimed to strengthen the stature of the May 18 democratization movement. As the result of the discussion, they determined to integrate two awards, the May 18 Citizens Award and Yoon Sang-won Award. The May 18 Foundation decided on the name and rules of GPHR, and then, it started awarding the prize for the first time at the first board of directors meeting in 2000.
- The related regulations
- 2023 Laureate of Main Prize
- Name: Chow Hang-Tung
Organization: Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China
- 2023 Laureate of Special Prize
- Name: The Coordination Council of Iranian Teacher Trade Association
Organization: The Coordination Council of Iranian Teacher Trade Association
- 2022 Laureate of Main Prize
- Name: Cynthia Maung (Myanmar)
Organization: Mae Tao Clinic
- 2021 Laureate of Main Prize
- Name: Anon Nampa (Thailand)
Organization: Thai Lawyers For Human Rights
- 2021 Laureate of Special Prize
- Name: Watchdoc Documentary Maker (Indonesia)
Organization: Watchdoc Documentary Maker
- 2020 Laureate of Main Prize
- Name: Bedjo Untung (Indonesia)
Organization: Indonesian Institute for the Study of 1965/1966 Massacre (YPKP65)
- 2019 Laureate of Main Prize
- Name: Joanna Carino (Philippine)
Organization: Cordillera Peoples Alliance
- 2019 Laureate of Special Prize
- Name: Dialita Choir
Organization: Dialita Choir
- 2018 Laureate of Main Prize
- Name: Fr. Nandana Manatunga (Sri Lanka)
Organization: The Human Rights Office Kandy
- 2017 Laureate of Main Prize
- Name: Jatupat Boonpattararaksa (Thailand)
Organization: Dao Din
- 2017 Laureate of Special Prize
- Name: Bambara Serge (Brukina Faso)
Organization: Citizen's Broom
- 2016 Laureate of Main Prize
- Name: Nguyen Dan Que (Vietnam)
Organization: Non Violent Movement for Human Rights in Vietnam
- 2016 Laureate of Main Prize
- Name: BERSIH 2.0 (Malaysia)
Organization: BERSIH 2.0
- 2015 Laureate of Main Prize
- Name: Latifah Anum Siregar (Indonesia)
Organization: Alliance of Democracy for Papua
- 2015 Laureate of Special Prize
- Name: Sombath Somphone (Laos)
Organization: The Participatory Development Training Center
- 2014 Laureate of Main Prize
- Name: Adilur Rahman Khan (Bangladesh)
Organization: Odhikar
- 2014 Laureate of Main Prize
- Name: Mothers of Khavaran (Iran)
Organization: Mothers of Khavaran
- 2013 Laureate of Main Prize
- Name: Hijos e Hijas la Identidad y la Justicia contra el Olvido y el Silencio (Argentina)
Organization: H.I.J.O.S
- 2013 Laureate of Special Prize
- Name: Tempo Weekly Magazine (Indonesia)
Organization: Tempo Weekly Magazine
- 2012 Laureate of Main Prize
- Name: Fr. Mun Jeong Hyeon (Republic of Korea)
Organization: Catholic Priests' Organization for Justice
- 2011 Laureate of Main Prize
- Name: Binayak Sen (India)
Organization: People’s Union for Civil Liberties
- 2011 Laureate of Special Prize
- Name: Parents Circle Families Forum-Israeli Palestinian Bereaved Families for Peace (Israel & Palestine)
Organization: Israeli-Palestinian Bereaved Families for Peace
- 2010 Laureate of Main Prize
- Name: Sushil Pyakurel (Nepal)
Organization: ccountability Watch Committee
- 2009 Laureate of Main Prize
- Name: Min Ko Naing (Myanmar)
Organization: Burmese Political Prisoners Organization
- 2008 Laureate of Main Prize
- Name: Muneer Malik (Pakistan)
Organization: Karachi Bar Association
- 2007 Laureate of Main Prize
- Name: Lenin Raghuvanshi (India)
Organization: People's Vigilance Committee on Human Rights, India
- 2007 Laureate of Main Prize
- Name: Irom Sharmila Chanu (India)
Organization: People's Rights Organization
- 2006 Laureate of Main Prize
- Name: Malalai Joya (Afghanistan)
Organization: Afganistan Palementary Member
- 2006 Laureate of Main Prize
- Name: Angkhana Neelapaijit (Thailand)
Organization: The Working Group for Justice and Peace
- 2005 Laureate of Main Prize
- Name: Wardah Hafiz (Indonesia)
Organization: Urban Poor Consortium
- 2004 Laureate of Main Prize
- Name: Aung San SuuKyi (Myanmar)
Organization: The National League for Democracy
- 2003 Laureate of Main Prize
- Name: Dandeniya Gamage Jayanthi (Sri Lanka)
Organization: Monument for the Disappeared
- 2002 Laureate of Main Prize
- Name: Korea Association of Bereaved Families for Democracy (Republic of Korea)
Organization: Korea Association of Bereaved Families for Democracy
- 2001 Laureate of Main Prize
- Name: Basil Fernando (Sri Lanka)
Organization: Asian Human Rights Commission
- 2000 Laureate of Main Prize
- Name: Kay Rala Xanana Gusmao (East Timor)
Organization: National Council of Timorese Resistance
List of the previous laureates of Yun Sang-won Award and The May 18 Citizen's Award from 1991 to1999
| Year | Yun Sang-won Award | The May 18 Citizen’s Award |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | No recipent due to the consolidation of two awards | |
| 1998 | Koh Young-koo (A lawyer and former president of Minbyun) | May Art and the Gwangju-Chonnam Artists Association |
| 1997 | Kwon Young-ghil(KCTU Chairman) | Gwak No-hyeon, Park Yeon-cheol |
| 1996 | Kim Sang-gun (pastor) | Hwang In-seong, Kang Yeon-gyun, Jeong Woong-tae |
| 1995 | Hwang Sok-young (Gwangju Women Workers' Association Jeonnam branch office of KTU) | Ahn Seong-rye |
| 1994 | Tobaki (Theater troupe), Jeong Kwang-hun | Yun Jeom-soon, the late Park Kwan-hyun |
| 1993 | Jeong Hyang-ja (Gwangju-Jeonnam MINKAHYUP Research Institute on Anti-national Activities) | The late Lee Han-yeol and Choi Duck-soo |
| 1992 | Jeong Hae-sook (Jeollanamd-do Federation of KFL) | Mun Ik-hwan,the late Kim Jong-tae and Song Gwang-young |
| 1991 | Research Institute on Farm Issues Jeonnam Democratic Youth League, Sung-dam Hong | The late Kim Eui-gi, Kim Tae-hoon and Lee Dong-soo |
Republic of Korea Gwangju Seogu Naebangro 152
/ Phone. +82-62-360-0518 / Fax. +82-62-360-0519
/ Phone. +82-62-360-0518 / Fax. +82-62-360-0519
Copyright © 2016 The May 18 Foundation. All Right Reserved.