On April 29, the International Human Rights Revival event, <In Each of Our Fields, Still International Human Rights!>, was held. The event was co-hosted by the International Human Rights Network, MINBYUN–Lawyers for a Democratic Society, Civil Society Organizations Network in Korea(CSOK), the Korean Council for Justice and Remembrance for the Issues of Military Sexual Slavery by Japan, and People’s Solidarity for Participatory Democracy(PSPD).
At a time when international human rights norms and institutions are under threat, and concerns are deepening within domestic activism about their effectiveness and sustainability, this event was organized to reconnect activists who have continued to believe in the power of international human rights standards and norms.
During the event, international human rights activists from Korean civil society shared their respective experiences, followed by a town hall dialogue in which different generations of Korean civil society reflected together on the past and present of international human rights activism. Participants then joined small-group discussions by topic, where they asked and answered questions together about how international human rights have remained relevant in their fields, what the most urgent issues are today, and how international human rights standards and institutions can be used and expanded anew going forward.
Banghak, an activist with the Korean Council, participated as a panelist in the International Human Rights Town Hall Dialogue. Banghak shared experiences from the Korean Council’s advocacy before international organizations and international solidarity activities for the resolution of the Japanese military sexual slavery issue, as well as the concerns encountered in the field.
Small-group discussions followed. Participants shared ways to make practical use of recommendations from international law, international organizations, and international litigation in Korea; domestic legislative tasks for implementing UN human rights treaties; and examples of solidarity activities in response to human rights situations overseas, including in Palestine. They also explored future tasks together.
At a time when global trust and solidarity in international human rights norms are being shaken, this event became an opportunity for us to reaffirm the direction we must take as international human rights activists.
In relation to the Japanese military sexual slavery issue in particular, the event also reaffirmed the need to remain even more alert to the spread of international networks of history denialists and the Japanese government’s attempts at history denial within international organizations. It is more urgent than ever to protect the achievements in international human rights norms and historical justice that survivors and civil society have built over many years, and to create a better tomorrow.
The Korean Council will continue to firmly establish the Japanese military sexual slavery issue as a matter of universal human rights.
On April 29, the International Human Rights Revival event, <In Each of Our Fields, Still International Human Rights!>, was held. The event was co-hosted by the International Human Rights Network, MINBYUN–Lawyers for a Democratic Society, Civil Society Organizations Network in Korea(CSOK), the Korean Council for Justice and Remembrance for the Issues of Military Sexual Slavery by Japan, and People’s Solidarity for Participatory Democracy(PSPD).
At a time when international human rights norms and institutions are under threat, and concerns are deepening within domestic activism about their effectiveness and sustainability, this event was organized to reconnect activists who have continued to believe in the power of international human rights standards and norms.
During the event, international human rights activists from Korean civil society shared their respective experiences, followed by a town hall dialogue in which different generations of Korean civil society reflected together on the past and present of international human rights activism. Participants then joined small-group discussions by topic, where they asked and answered questions together about how international human rights have remained relevant in their fields, what the most urgent issues are today, and how international human rights standards and institutions can be used and expanded anew going forward.
Banghak, an activist with the Korean Council, participated as a panelist in the International Human Rights Town Hall Dialogue. Banghak shared experiences from the Korean Council’s advocacy before international organizations and international solidarity activities for the resolution of the Japanese military sexual slavery issue, as well as the concerns encountered in the field.
Small-group discussions followed. Participants shared ways to make practical use of recommendations from international law, international organizations, and international litigation in Korea; domestic legislative tasks for implementing UN human rights treaties; and examples of solidarity activities in response to human rights situations overseas, including in Palestine. They also explored future tasks together.
At a time when global trust and solidarity in international human rights norms are being shaken, this event became an opportunity for us to reaffirm the direction we must take as international human rights activists.
In relation to the Japanese military sexual slavery issue in particular, the event also reaffirmed the need to remain even more alert to the spread of international networks of history denialists and the Japanese government’s attempts at history denial within international organizations. It is more urgent than ever to protect the achievements in international human rights norms and historical justice that survivors and civil society have built over many years, and to create a better tomorrow.
The Korean Council will continue to firmly establish the Japanese military sexual slavery issue as a matter of universal human rights.