14 - 18 May, 1998

After three years of preparation and discussion, with over 200 non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and thousands of experts and activists having taken part, the final version of the ASIAN HUMAN RIGHTS CHARTER - a people’s charter on human rights - has completed. The document will be formally declared on 17 May 1998 in the city of Kwangju in south Korea at a meeting to be jointly organised by the Asian Human Rights Commission in Hong Kong and the Kwangju Citizens’ Solidarity on 14-18 May.

The ASIAN HUMAN RIGHTS CHARTER comes as a vital necessity in the background of Asia parting from the 20th century and entering into the 21st century. The occasion also marks the 50th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the commemoration of the Kwangju Massacre.

The Charter is an affirmation of the desire and aspirations of the people of Asia to live in peace and dignity as they have suffered from gross violations of rights and freedoms for long. "The Asian struggle for rights and freedoms," the Charter states, "has deep historical roots, in the fight against oppression in civil society and the political oppression of colonialism, and subsequently for the establishment or restoration of democracy." As today large sections of the Asian people continue to be exploited and oppressed, and many of their societies are torn apart by hatred and intolerance, the Asians are increasingly determined to secure peace and justice for themselves and the coming generations through the struggle for human rights and freedoms. "The reaffirmation of rights is necessary now more than ever before," the Charter says.