Every
year since 2000, the May 18 Memorial Foundation (Gwangju, Republic of
Korea) has announced its annual “Call for nominations for the Gwangju
Prize for Human Rights”. This Prize promotes the spirit of the May 18
Democratization Movement in which the people of Gwangju resisted against
brutal military forces for the sake of Democracy and Human Rights in
1980. Historically the May 18 Democratization Movement brought democracy
to Korea.
The
May 18 Memorial Foundation was founded in 1994 with the aim of
spreading and commemorating the democratic spirit shown by the people of
Gwangju. In the course of restoring the meaning of the May 18
Democratization Movement through fact finding, and bringing the
perpetrators to justice, even though Gwangju was isolated by the
military junta many overseas countries supported the City and wanted to
see the restoration of justice and human rights. Therefore, through this
prize the May 18 Memorial Foundation would like to share and empathize
with people in similar situations to that which the people of Gwangju
faced in 1980.
The
prize goes to one individual or an organization that has struggled for
or contributed to the improvement and advancement of human rights,
democracy and peace in their community and country.
Nominations
will be collected from 19 December to 24 February. Preliminary and
final reviews of nominees will take place through February to March. The
winner of the Gwangju Prize for Human Rights will be announced on the
first week of April. The official prize ceremony will be held at the May
18 Memorial Culture Center, Gwangju, on May 18, 2013.
The Gwangju Prize for Human Rights Special Award
In
2011, the May 18 Memorial Foundation newly established the Gwangju
Prize for Human Rights Special Award. Since the time that the Foundation
began awarding the Gwangju Prize for Human Rights, we have received
many requests to establish a special prize for those who work for the
improvement of human rights by the means of journalism, culture,
literature, and many other fields. The special prize is provided every 2
years. The prize winner will also receive some prize money (10,000 USD)
and a certificate at the same Awards ceremony. Nominators can use the
same nomination form as that of the Gwangju Prize for Human Rights.
Eligibility for the Prize
1) A
person or group eligible for the Gwangju Prize for Human Rights
nominated by another individual or organization. An individual cannot
nominate him/herself and cannot be nominated by his/her own
organization.
2) A person or group who has been struggling for justice and democracy for their community and country.
3) A person or group who has contributed towards democracy and human rights movements through their work in their organization.
Policy of the Prize Committee
1) Co-winners may only be selected by the Prize Committee, not by nominators; a nominator can only submit 1 nominee.
2) Nominators cannot interfere with or participate in the Prize Committee’s selection process.
3) The Prize Committee may only disclose the amount of nominees, not the names of them.
Nomination Deadline
From 19 December 2012 until 24 February 2013.
The Prize
The
prize winner will receive the prize money, 50,000 USD (10,000 USD for
the winner of the special prize for the Gwangju Prize for Human Rights),
medal and certificate.
The
Prize will be awarded at the Prize Ceremony to be held at the May 18
Memorial Culture Center, on May 18, 2013 and the winner should attend
the Ceremony.
The prize winner is expected to attend press conferences and a Special Celebration Concert on May 19, 2013.
Contact Information
Solidarity Team
The May 18 Memorial Foundation
Postcode 520-260 Naebangro 152 5.18 Memorial Culture Center Seo-gu Gwangju, Republic of Korea
Phone: +82 62 360 0520
Fax: +82 62 360 0519
Email: gwangjuprize@gmail.com
