World Human Rights Cities Forum 2014 Invites You

Gwangju will long remember its own human rights tragedy 34 years ago. In honor of those lost and who suffered, the 2014 World Human Rights Cities Forum (WHRCF) will hold festivities, provide thematic workshops and advocate for human rights from May 15 to 18. Events will be at the Kimdaejung Convention Center in order to host over 500 guests. A team from the Gwangju International Center (GIC) has organized these events.

According to the WHRCF Concept Notes, this year’s theme of “Towards a Global Alliance of Human Rights Cities for All” is meant to unify all participants as they strive toward making all cities more human-rights-conscious. The Concept Notes also emphasize that successful human rights innovation and structuring will provide cities with a common vision to be replicated around the world.

“The field of human rights is important for the reason that the parameters of its practices and utilization are still being constructed. A legal infrastructure of basic needs can be dangerous if not completely representational,” says Wilson Melbostad, a WHRCF discussion group manager.

Adds Park Min-young, a GIC coordinator responsible for WHRCF Planning and Management: “Just thinking about other people and trying to be respectful about others and understanding others in our daily lives is a part of human rights.”

A number of human rights experts have confirmed their attendance for this year’s Human Rights Forum, the fourth since its 2011 creation. The Gwangju community will have the special honor of participating alongside African, Asian, European, North and South American researchers, analysts and activists.

The 2014 WHRCF discussion groups will provide listening and learning opportunities for Gwangju residents. The goal is for discussion group volunteer participants to be empowered to develop and maintain Gwangju’s international presence as a city for human rights.

The discussion groups’ vision statement is to “provide a collaborative and effective venue for participants to share their thoughts after each presentation has been given. Each voice is valuable, so all volunteer participants are encouraged to share their opinions and hear what others say.”

Volunteer participants attended two preparatory sessions in April and will attend a third session on May 10. While receiving their training at the GIC, these participants learned what fundamental human rights are, how to respectfully engage in conversations, which conversational techniques to use and how to listen to and reflect after a presentation prepared by a discussion group manager. The orientation sessions were designed to teach and replicate the style of the key note speaker during the World Human Rights Cities Forum. Upon completion, discussion group volunteer participants will receive an official certificate from the GIC, showing how many hours each volunteer completed. These participants will also have access to personal recommendation letters at any time after the Forum.

Naturally, the WHRCF events will include discussing Gwangju’s particularly dark week in 1980. Although “5.18” is unpleasant to remember, a host of positive advancements toward human rights in Gwangju have occurred as a result.

Tom Reid, a WHRCF discussion group manager, says, “The May 18th Protests show perfectly what happens when human rights are ignored and action is taken. The spirit of Gwangju now is intent on preserving human rights and avoiding a similar event. This is the perfect example for the international community.”

On the importance of understanding human rights’ purpose in today’s society, Melbostad says, “Human rights can be defined as a public good that every human, regardless of their standing in the world, is entitled to. Human rights are important for the reason that if properly utilized, they could provide basic humanitarian protection on a scale that has not yet been utilized.”

Park encouraged the upcoming volunteer participants to contribute to the future of human rights. “I hope volunteer participants can learn about our community to be leaders of the human rights city and also learn to take pride in what they can do as a community, because it would not only change our community but it will also change the whole world.”

WHRCF discussion group volunteer participants are privileged to join this year’s human rights experts, organizers and supporters, proving that all Gwangju residents and guests, both national and international, can work together to make their big dreams a firm reality.

If you are interested in participating in this human rights opportunity, you are invited. For more information and how to apply to this program, please email whrcf2014@gmail.com before Tuesday, May 13.