Call for Application - GRAS-Net Session at 2022 Gwangju Democracy Forum

The May 18 Memorial Foundation invites you to apply to participate GRAS-Net session during the Gwangju Democracy Week on May 20 (Friday), 2022. The 2022 Gwangju Democracy Forum will be held this year under the theme “ An Answer to Global Crisis – Collaboration and Solidarity.”  At GRAS-Net session, we will discuss on overcoming Covid 19 and civil society solidarity in multilateral approach. End of the session, we will adopt resolutions based on suggestions/agendas derived from the discussion to be sent to each government, and we will send them in an Open letter to UN. The deadline for the submission is April 5 (Tuesday), 2022.

- Application Link: https://forms.gle/D8ho5a7Ym2EM8zj66 

- Duration: March 18(Fri) to April 5(Tue), 2022

* Contact and Enquiries

- Yoojung Hong:  hyj0118@518.org Tel) +82-62-360-0522

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2022 Gwangju Democracy Forum

Concept Note (Tentative)

○  Background

The global pandemic has continued for three years, and it seems that there is no way out. The omicron variant has disrupted normalization and the end of the coronavirus crisis. Each country’s countermeasures to put its citizens first and the competitive behavior of international pharmaceutical companies have created difficulties in resolving the problem and at the same time have made it hard to provide humanitarian aid to developing countries, deepening inequality in dealing with 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 endangers our environment and agreed to reduce them. We have a difficult task ahead as we support developing countries in overcoming the climate crisis and encourage 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 tension between the US and China while forming a G2 and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine triggering new US-Russia tension, the dangerous possibilities of war are everywhere on the globe. The aftermath of such international conflicts will create a refugee crisis and hinder the stable development of democracy.

The May 18 Memorial Foundation in Gwangju, which is commemorating the 42nd anniversary of the May 18 Democratic Uprising, will convene the Gwangju Democracy Forum both in person and online from May 18 to May 21, 2022, to discuss these crises, seeking solutions and countermeasures. With the participation of experts, we will discuss the impact of the coronavirus crisis on democracy, the climate crisis, and appropriate policies for responding to such problems. Additionally, we would like to address the situations in various countries across Asia, including the crisis of Myanmar, which is undergoing severe human rights violations and a threat to democracy, along with possible countermeasures. The Gwangju Democracy Forum is organized jointly with partner organizations and will include independent sessions.

○  2022 Gwangju Democracy Forum Agenda

◎ Keynote

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

◎ Thematic cluster I. Defining an Incomplete Transitional Justice – Remaining Tasks

On November 23, 2021, Chun Doohwan, the former South Korean military dictator, died without admitting or apologizing for the 1980 massacre in Gwangju. Thus, we hold responsibility for responding to the unresolved issues of the Gwangju massacre.

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 Truth Commission is actively conducting their investigation of the May 18 Democratic Uprising. The 2022 Gwangju Democracy Forum intends to cover the following topics.

■  The Future of May 18 – Following the Death of Chun Doohwan, What are the Remaining Tasks for Us?

1) Completion of unresolved tasks – the three major tasks include punishment for those responsible for the massacre, finding the truth, and compensation for the victims, none of which have been completed. How much progress has been made on each task, and what remains to be done? These tasks should be completed jointly with the May 18 Truth Commission.

2) Post Chun Doohwan Era – The remaining issues of May 18 may undergo many changes after Chun’s death. Gathering collective wisdom on what can and should be done, we are trying to complete our tasks in transitional justice.

3) Overseas Cases – Dictators are often convict by the International Criminal Court or special tribunals. However, there are many issues we have not yet considered as we have focused on truth finding and punishing the dictator who ordered the massacre. Moreover, we should highlight how the process of social integration has continued with historical reckoning and how the victims – perhaps all citizens – have healed their wounds.

4) Examples of other countries and guidelines - Finding the solution for the incomplete issues, which are the May 18 Democratic Uprising fact-finding, compensation of victims, and regaining the impaired reputation, through transitional justice guidelines by international organizations like the UN, International Center for Transitional Justice(ICTJ)

■ Solidarity in Gwangju

Solidarity with International Civil Society Against State Violence – Expand the Network!

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

◎ Thematic cluster II. COVID-19 and Democracy

■ Vaccine Equality

The global pandemic of the last three years has left many scars. The massive death toll caused by the pandemic and the after-effects of the vaccine have resulted in a heavy price. It seems that there is no way out. The time that we were able to travel freely across borders has ended, and the pandemic has made communication and exchange of ideas difficult. Additionally, the resulting economic crisis has left in many workers unemployed. However, the most serious after-effect is the inequality in access to vaccines. In developing countries with vulnerable health and sanitation systems, many people have passed away even with mild symptoms. In addition, the citizens of poor countries with precarious social healthcare are suffering from a collapsed medical care system. Inequality during the pandemic continues, peace and coexistence on the global level have become null and void with the pandemic and the selfish behavior of the pharmaceutical companies in the powerful nations. A pandemic similar to COVID-19 may again threaten our lives in the future, as well. The wealth that nine executives at Pfizer and Moderna earned in 2021 could pay for the vaccination of one billion people in the poorest countries. Moreover, the money earned by eight major pharmaceutical shareholders and their families, who were already billionaires, could pay for the vaccination of everyone in India (Oxfam report, May 2021).

The Gwangju Democracy Forum aims to create a space for discussion of those responsible for aggravating poverty and disease over the past three years and to hold sessions on the effects of the pandemic on democracy, against discrimination and inequality. By doing so, we are attempting to find alternatives for civil society.

■ A Discussion on Overcoming the Coronavirus Outbreak

– A call for a multilateral approach and transformation of each country’s public health policies and a policy for cooperation in international development.

COVAX, a project to resolve inequality in vaccine supply and distribution, is a multinational community established by the World Health Organization, the Coalition for Infectious Disease Innovation, and the Global Vaccine and Immunization Alliance. It was launched to implement advantageous contracts by jointly investing in vaccine development and using purchasing power among participating countries. It guarantees equal access for all participating countries. As of May 2021, 177 countries, including 85 self-financing countries and 92 low-and middle-income countries, were participating. The G20 has promised to expand the supply of vaccines to poor countries through the Rome Pact and has promised to vaccinate 70% of the world’s population by the middle of 2022. Moreover, the G7 has promised support amounting to 8 trillion KRW. In line with Bill Gates’ declaration of vaccine supply with a low cost, Pfizer has also promised to allow the manufacture of biosimilars for 95 low-and middle-income countries without royalties.

However, the promises made by participating governments and international organizations are not being fulfilled, and their support is not enough to keep up with the speed of virus variants, which is increasing every day. Through a critical review of the multilateral efforts of governments and international organizations, we will collect suggestions for sustainable approaches to overcoming the pandemic. We will adopt resolutions to be sent to each government, and we will send them in a Open letter.

◎ Thematic cluster III. Democracy in Asia – Prospects for 2022

The development of democracy is greatly influenced by whether policies are inclusive and multilateral. The ongoing conflict between the United States and China, called the G2, has a deep impact on democracy and human rights around the globe. In addition, the global pandemic provides a good excuse for governments with no legitimacy to roll back democracy through inappropriate actions. Examples include the regression of democracy in Asia that has been taking place for several years and the power struggle between the US and China in the South China Sea. In particular, the Gwangju Democracy Forum opens an environment for discussion of the efforts for democratization and the transnational solidarity of civil society, which are becoming explicitly visible in many Asian countries. We aim to support these countries and find solutions by gathering opinions and increasing wisdom.

■  Prospects for Democracy in Asia 2022 - “We Unite for Solidarity!”

As pointed out during the 2019 Gwangju Asia Forum, all countries once seemed to have achieved stability in democracy, but the situation in Thailand, Hong Kong, and Myanmar, including the recent military coup and the crisis of democracy in the Philippines and Cambodia, are becoming worse, and the lockdown due to the coronavirus outbreak is aggravating these problems.

The Gwangju Democracy Forum will not only discuss the situation in each of these countries, but will also provide time to discuss more specific ways to achieve solidarity and joint campaigns between organizations that have an existing solidarity network, providing a space to talk about solidarity plans in detail. Korean civil society organizations have particularly been engaged in solidarity activities with specific Asian countries. The civil society sector in these countries will be invited to discuss action plans to achieve solidarity.

The transnational solidarity of civil society seems to have decreased compared to the previous period, but it has also become more concrete and closer at a certain level. Through the Gwangju Democracy Forum, we expect our discussions to yield rich results, even though gathering in person has become difficult during the global pandemic. The purpose of this session is to make it possible to discuss joint projects for civil society between Korea and each country through speech and discussion.

Structure of 2022 Gwangju Democracy Forum

2022 Gwangju Democracy Schedule (Korea Standard Time, GMT +9)