Gwangju Democracy Forum(GDF) 2023

The Gwangju Democracy Forum(GDF) 2023 will take place for six days from May 14 to 19 2023 in the May 18 Week in a hybrid manner.

This year GDF 2023 theme is “Solidarity for Democracy and Human Rights Defenders”, and around 10 session are to be organized under the 3 thematic cluster 1) State Violence and Restoration of Victim’s Rights – How will It Be Done?, 2) UN SDG 16+- Peace, Justice, and Democracy, 3) Challenges and Threats Toward Human Rights Defenders to discuss what is needed in leading to a new order to overcome the chaos and to find ways to restore democracy.

We will include the following in the discussions; 1) country/region state of democracy, 2) countermeasures against humanitarian crises caused by war and the climate crisis, 3) civic participation and the rebuilding of democracy for people. The outcome of the GDF 2023 will be used as input to develop the 2030 Gwangju Agenda for Democracy (GAD) which will be the guide for action to prepare for the 50th anniversary of the May 18 Democratic Uprising in 2030

And youth component will be implemented for youth who are active in the field of democracy, human rights, and peace in South Korea. The Youth-GDF (Y-GDF) will be held from May 14 to 15 prior to the GDF 2023 event.

All GDF participants will attend the 43rd Anniversary of the May 18 Democratic Uprising National ceremony and the Gwangju Prize for Human Rights(GPHR) Awards ceremony on May 18.