November 24-25, 2014 – Seoul, Korea
The Asia Democracy Network in cooperation with the East Asia Institute held the Empowering the Community of Democracies (CD) International Forum in Seoul, Korea. Supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Republic of Korea distinguished activists and experts in various areas gathered to discuss key issues of human rights and democracy in Asia to empower the Community of Democracies in preparation for the 9th Ministerial CD Conference to be held in El Salvador in 2015.
The two day conference consisted of discussions on emerging challenges in the sectors of Freedom of Opinion and Expression, Education for Democracy, Enabling and Protecting Civil Society, Transparency, and Election in Asia. The fruitful discussions provided for an action plan to enhance the effectiveness of international organizations such as the Community of Democracies.
With Asia rising as a competitive economic player and to take ownership of democracy in Asia, a model of democracy assistance foundation in Asia was the main topic of discussion for the second day. Participants from the European Endowment for Democracy, National Endowment for Democracy, and United Nations Democracy Fund shared their respective challenges and experiences offering lessons learned.
The forum concluded with the Seoul Proposal Action Plan being devised to empower international organizations like the CD to further representation of multi-stakeholders in Asia.
Check back to our website for the final version of the Seoul Proposal.
| Program |
| Monday November 24, 2014
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| 09:00-9:30 | Opening Session Opening Remarks LEE Sook-Jong, President, EAI Welcoming Remarks SHIN Dong-ik, Deputy Minister for Multilateral and Global Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Korea Congratulatory Remarks Maria Leissner, Secretary General, Community of Democracies Introduction of Background and Agenda Anselmo LEE, Co-Convener, Asia Democracy Network |
| 09:30-10:40 | Session 1 “Emerging Challenges to Democracy Promotion in Asia and Beyond” Moderator LEE Sook-Jong, President, EAI Speakers Maria Leissner, Secretary General, Community of Democracies SHIN Dong-ik, Deputy Minister for Multilateral and Global Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Korea Roland RICH, Former Executive Head, United Nations Democracy Fund Carl GERSHMAN, President, National Endowment for Democracy Anselmo LEE, Co-Convener, Asia Democracy Network |
| 10:40-11:00 | Break |
| 11:00-12:40 | Session 2-A “Freedom of Opinion and Expression” Moderator Augusto (Gus) Miclat, Executive Director, Initiatives for International Dialogue Speakers Nirmala SHARMA, Executive President, Sancharika Samuha: Forum of Women Journalists & Communications PARK Kyung-Sin, Associate Professor, Korea University Discussants Oliver SPENCER, Head of Asia Programme, Article 19 OH Byoung-il, Secretary General, YMCA Korea Session 2-B. “Education for Democracy” Moderator SOH Chang-rok, Professor, Korea University Speakers CHUNG Utak, Director, Asia Pacific Centre of Education for International Understanding SHIN Hyung-sik, Director of Planning and Coordination, Korea Democracy Foundation & Secretary General, Asia Democracy Network Discussant OH Sun Young, Executive Secretary, Korea Human Rights Foundation
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| 12:40-14:00 |
Luncheon
Speaker
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| 14:00-15:40 | Session 3-A. “Elections” Moderator Jose (Chito) GASCON, Board Member, Human Rights Victims’ Claims Board, Republic of the Philippines Speakers Ichal SUPRIADI, Executive Director, Asian Network for Free Elections KIM Jeong-Gon, Director, Association of World Election Bodies CHO Sungdai, Professor, Hanshin University Discussants KANG WooJin, Professor, Kyungpook National University George MATHEW, Chairman, Institute of Social SciencesSession 3-B. “Transparency” Moderator Nirmala SHARMA, Executive President, Sancharika Samuha: Forum of Women Journalists & Communications Speakers Tur-Od LKHAGVAJAV, Executive Director, Transparency International – Mongolia John SULLIVAN, Executive Director, Center for International Private Enterprise JEON Jin Han, Director, The Center for Freedom of Information and Transparent Society Discussant YOON Cheol Han, Director, Citizens’ Coalition for Economic Justice
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| 15:40-16:00 |
Break |
| 16:00-17:40 |
Session 4. “Enabling and Protecting Civil Society” Moderator Ichal SUPRIADI, Executive Director, Asian Network for Free Elections Speakers Oliver SPENCER, Head of Asia Programme, Article 19 KONG Suk-Ki, Professor, Seoul National University Asia Center Discussant BAEK Buhm-Suk, Associate Professor, Kyunghee University |
| Tuesday November 25, 2014 | |
| 09:30-10:50 | Special Session 1. “Experience of Democracy Assistance Foundation” Moderator LEE Sook-Jong, President, East Asia Institute Speakers Carl GERSHMAN, President, National Endowment for Democracy Ivan DOHERTY, Director of Political Party Programs, National Democratic Institute John SULLIVAN, Executive Director, Center for International Private Enterprise Roland RICH, Former Executive Head, United Nations Democracy Fund Jerzy POMIANOWSKI, Executive Director, European Endowment for Democracy
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| 10:50-11:00 | Break |
| 11:00-12:20 | Special Session 2. “Seeking a New Model of Democracy Assistance Foundation” Moderator Anselmo LEE, Co-Convener, Asia Democracy Network Speakers George MATHEW, Chairman, Institute of Social Sciences Jose (Chito) GASCON, Board Member, Human Rights Victims’ Claims Board, Republic of the Philippines Tur-Od LKHAGVAJAV, Executive Director, Transparency International – Mongolia LEE Jung Ok, Professor, Catholic University of Daegu |
| 12:30-14:00 | Luncheon
Speaker
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| 14:30-16:00 | Special Session 3. “CD Governance and Effectiveness” Moderator Roland RICH, Former Executive Head, United Nations Democracy Fund Speakers Paul GRAHAM, Steering Committee Member, CD International Steering Committee of the NGO Process Daniel SLOMKA, Communications Officer, Community of Democracies Augusto (Gus) MICLAT, Executive Director, Initiatives for International Dialogue George MATHEW, Chairman, Institute of Social Sciences Discussant LEE Jung Ok, Professor, Catholic University of Daegu |
| 16:00-16:20 | Break |
| 16:20-17:30 | Concluding Session. “Seoul Proposal for CD Ministerial Conference in El Salvador” Moderator Anselmo LEE, Co-Convener, Asia Democracy Network |
