Call for Application – The Gwangju Youth Democracy Forum 2023 ( ~ March 2nd, 2023) 

The May 18 Foundation invites you to apply to participate The Gwangju Youth Democracy Forum 2023(Y-GDF) during the Gwangju Democracy Week on May 14 to 15 (Sunday to Monday), 2023 prior to Gwangju Democracy Forum 2023 in Gwangju, South Korea. The various program (lecture, discussion, study tour, and etc) will be composed and after the Y-GDF, you will attend the GDF 2023 from May 16 to 19 (Tuesday to Friday) 2023. The GDF will take place for 4 days during the Gwangju Democracy Week under the theme “Human Rights Defenders for Democracy Solidarity” You can find the concept note (draft) of the GDF 2023 below. The deadline for the submission is March 2nd (Thursday), 2023.

- Application Link: https://forms.gle/3uGfLHLoUCYhLakq9

- Duration: Feb. 17(Fri.) to March 2nd (Thur.), 2022

* Contact and Enquiries

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

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The GDF 2023 Concept Note (Tentative)

2023 Gwangju Democracy Forum (GDF) 

Hybrid, May 14 to 19 (Sunday to Friday), 2023

1. The Gwangju Democracy Forum (GDF) 2023 is an annual international meeting locally hosted by the May 18 Foundation to bring together democracy advocates, human rights defenders and activists, researchers, and policy-makers to discuss and reflect on the state and challenges of democracy at the local, national, and global levels as a way to commemorate the spirit of May 18 Gwangju Democratic Uprising in 1980 in today’s global context.

2. The GDF is to be organized throughout the week of May 18 in a hybrid manner, online sessions from 14 to 16 May and in person sessions in Gwangju on 14 and 19 May 2023. The in person sessions are composed of Youth-GDF (14-15 May), GDF Main Session (16 May), Global Human Rights Defenders (HRD) Day, and public May 18 commemoration ceremony and Gwangju Human Rights Award Ceremony (18 May)

Structure of the Program during the May 18 Week

* UDPMA: Universal Day for Prevention of Militarism and Authoritarianism 

** GPHR: Gwangju Prize for Human Rights

 3. The main objectives of the GDF 2023 are i) to assess the emerging threats and challenges to democracy and human rights movement nationally and internationally, ii) to develop common agenda for join action based on shared understanding and analysis, and iii) to contribute to stronger international networking and coalition-building among democracy advocates and human rights defenders. 

 4. The co-organizing partners are expected to organize online sessions (14-16 May) and bring their own participants and speakers for in person sessions (16-17 and/or 19 May) with their own funding . The May 18 Foundation may cover the expenses such as accommodation and meals during the GDF (16-18 May). Some of the co-organizing partners are invited to jointly organize Youth GDF (14-15 May). 

 5. Under the general theme “Human Rights Defenders for Democracy Solidarity” (tentative), various topics are to be addressed online and offline under the following thematic cluster during the Y-GDF and GDF in the context of the 30th anniversary of the World Conference on Human Rights in Vienna (1993) and 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) (1948). Thematic background documents about 6 thematic clusters will be prepared and shared with co-organizing partners and participants in due course.   

A. State Violence, Impunity, and Transitional Justice

B. SDG 16 and Democracy – Peace, Justice (Judicial System), and Democracy

C. Challenges and Opportunities for Human Rights Defenders -  UN, National Human Rights Commission(NHRC), and Human Rights Activists 

 6. The Youth-GDF (14-15 May) is a youth-led and youth-oriented meeting by leaders of youth organizations, youth leaders, and members of the CSOs that are interested to join the GDF as co-organizing partners. Youths, including overseas university students residing in Korea (aged below 35) will also be invited to join. 

 7. Global Human Rights Defenders Day (17 May) is to address main challenges, threats and opportunities for human rights defenders as a way to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders (1998).  Strategic engagements with UN human rights mechanisms including the UN Special Rapporteurs on HRD, transitional justice, climate change, etc. will be addressed to protect and strengthen the role of HRDs. It is expected to be organized in partnership with relevant international organizations and public institutions such as UN Office of High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), National Human Rights Commission of Korea (NHRCK), and Korea Association of Human Rights Studies (KAHRS). 

 8. During the Global HRD Day (17 May), the commemoration ceremony of the Universal Day against the Prevention of Militarism and Authoritarianism (UDPMA) will be conducted for the first time to remember the HRDs who are victims of human rights violations by the various types of perpetrators.

 9. The Public events (17-18 May) are composed of the Citizens’ Rally on the eve of May 18, the official ceremony of the 43rd Anniversary of the May 18 Democratization Movement at the National Cemetery in Mangwoldong, and Gwangju Prize for Human Rights Award giving ceremony

 10. The May 19 (Friday) is devoted to optional strategy meeting to discuss how to implement the action plans discussed at the GDF among co-organizing partners and internal organizational meetings as back-to-back by co-organizing partners.  

 11. The outcome of the GDF 2023 will be used as input to develop the 2030 Gwangju Agenda for Democracy (GAD) which is the guide for action to prepare for the 50th anniversary of the May 18 Democratic Uprising in 2030. 

Contact and Enquiries:

- Yoojung Hong Hyj0118@518.org International Affairs Department, May 18 Foundation

- Anselmo Lee, Alee7080@gmail.com Board Member of the May 18 Foundation / APSD Coordinator