Concept Note
Spreading a Global Anti-Violence Culture: Stories from Citizens of Five Countries
Background
War between nations represents the most severe site of violence. Conflicts of various scales, from the Russia-Ukraine war, the Israel-Palestine conflict, to large and small civil wars, continue to occur globally, going beyond mere armed confrontations and posing a grave threat to human rights and dignity. In addition to these external conflicts, violence perpetrated by state power has repeatedly occurred within various nations throughout their democratization processes. Violence also manifests itself in regional inequalities as conflicts among social classes and emerges within everyday life during capitalist development as physical or cultural violence between the strong and the weak. Recognizing this complex reality of violence, migrants from Algeria, Vietnam, Uzbekistan, and China residing in Gwangju, along with Korean citizens, critically reflect on the structures of war, state violence, and social discrimination they experienced in their home countries, engaging in practical dialogues to spread a culture of anti-violence.
Objectives
Aligning the discussions with the main theme of the World Human Rights Cities Forum, Peace and Solidarity: Human Rights Cities Acting for Conflict Prevention and Peacebuilding, this session aims to highlight the voices of immigrants regarding wars between countries and violence perpetrated by state authorities. Against the backdrop of the history of Gwangju's anti-violence resistance during the Democratization Movement, citizens from five different countries currently residing in Gwangju will critically reflect upon various cases of war and violence currently unfolding around the world, and in doing so contribute to spreading a global anti-violence culture.
Main Agenda
1. The right to peace as a human right and experience of resistance against state violence: focused on Gwangju’s perspective
2. Democracy and peace as realizations of popular sovereignty ensuring inclusive and equal participation for all
3. Sharing experiences from five countries facing tensions and conflicts between state violence and peacebuilding during the democratization process
Concept Note
Spreading a Global Anti-Violence Culture: Stories from Citizens of Five Countries
Background
War between nations represents the most severe site of violence. Conflicts of various scales, from the Russia-Ukraine war, the Israel-Palestine conflict, to large and small civil wars, continue to occur globally, going beyond mere armed confrontations and posing a grave threat to human rights and dignity. In addition to these external conflicts, violence perpetrated by state power has repeatedly occurred within various nations throughout their democratization processes. Violence also manifests itself in regional inequalities as conflicts among social classes and emerges within everyday life during capitalist development as physical or cultural violence between the strong and the weak. Recognizing this complex reality of violence, migrants from Algeria, Vietnam, Uzbekistan, and China residing in Gwangju, along with Korean citizens, critically reflect on the structures of war, state violence, and social discrimination they experienced in their home countries, engaging in practical dialogues to spread a culture of anti-violence.
Objectives
Aligning the discussions with the main theme of the World Human Rights Cities Forum, Peace and Solidarity: Human Rights Cities Acting for Conflict Prevention and Peacebuilding, this session aims to highlight the voices of immigrants regarding wars between countries and violence perpetrated by state authorities. Against the backdrop of the history of Gwangju's anti-violence resistance during the Democratization Movement, citizens from five different countries currently residing in Gwangju will critically reflect upon various cases of war and violence currently unfolding around the world, and in doing so contribute to spreading a global anti-violence culture.
Main Agenda
1. The right to peace as a human right and experience of resistance against state violence: focused on Gwangju’s perspective
2. Democracy and peace as realizations of popular sovereignty ensuring inclusive and equal participation for all
3. Sharing experiences from five countries facing tensions and conflicts between state violence and peacebuilding during the democratization process