“So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them…” (cf. Genesis 1:27)
We, 60 delegates from Asia—Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Japan, Myanmar, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, and Korea, and from a partner church in Canada—gathered from April 27 to May 3 at the Graduate School of Theology, Hanshin University in Seoul, South Korea for the Congress for Human Rights in Asia under the theme: “Reclaiming Imago Dei: People to People’s Solidarity”.
Our gathering is a celebration of the legacy of the Human Rights Committee of the National Council of Churches in Korea (NCCK) on its 50th anniversary. Now evolved into the NCCK Human Rights Center, it has been a leading light during the struggle for democracy against the brutal dictatorships in the 1970s and 1980s. We pledge to honor this and strengthen solidarity among human rights defenders across Asia in order to defend God’s gift of human dignity inherent in every individual.
1. Global Realities
Globally we are seeing difficult times marked by aggravating economic crisis and intensifying geopolitical tensions and wars, amid massive poverty, inequality and increasing vulnerability to climate change brought about by the era of neoliberalism. There are more billionaires today than before the pandemic. There are more unjust wars and there are more punishing neoliberal policies being implemented by governments. We are confronted by profound challenges and systemic crises brought about by worsening inter-imperialist rivalries that underscore the breakdown of international human rights norms and multilateralism established since 1945.
States have only sponsored more exploitation through neoliberalism. Increasingly too, they have become more dominated by right-wing elements that have promoted exclusionary policies that challenge the fabric of diverse societies by fostering xenophobia, violating indigenous people’s rights, curtailing the rights of migrants, refugees and uprooted peoples, discriminating against sexual minority communities of LGBTQI++, and abrogating numerous other human rights and freedoms.
2. Asian Realities
The U.S.-China rivalry for dominance is creating a region steeped in geopolitical tensions. The US Indo-Pacific strategy in order to contain China and various countries in Asia are increasingly being dragged into the inevitability of war. Asian nations still grapple with the remnants of colonialism and the chains of authoritarian rule, with troubling currents of militarism and fascism further threatening the fabric of democracy and human rights.
Japan, under a post-war security treaty with the U.S., hosts substantial American military forces to counter perceived threats from China, North Korea, and Russia which contravenes the Article 9 provisions in its Constitution. This places it at the center of regional power dynamics. South Korea aligns with broader U.S. strategic interests in Asia which negatively impacts inter-Korean relations and the overall peace process on the Korean Peninsula. Meanwhile, Taiwan, despite the absence of U.S. Military bases since 1979, remains officially engaged in strategic military cooperation with the U.S. to counter China’s regional ambitions. Similar tensions are happening in Southeast Asia, with the Philippines hosting a large number of US troops and holding war exercises with US and Japan in South China Sea or the West Philippine Sea, further stoking conflict with China.
The human rights landscape is marked by severe challenges and conflicts. The Philippines under President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. has seen an intensification of human rights abuses with increased attacks against activists, civil society, communities in the countryside as well as various violations of international humanitarian law. Similarly, Myanmar has deteriorated significantly following a military coup, with widespread oppression and violence. Mandatory military conscription and aggressive military actions have forced many to flee, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis. In all of these, the Rohingya remain displaced. Indonesia continues to struggle with its so-called democratic system, facing persistent issues from corruption to the suppression of dissent and limited freedom of speech. The human rights violations in Papua are acute, where indigenous communities suffer from systemic discrimination and rights abuses amid resource conflicts. In Hong Kong, a newly enacted National Security Law further silences civil and political rights.
In South Asia, governments are fanning the flames of ethnic conflicts and religious intolerance and the U.S. war exercises and militarization in the Indian Ocean further endangers the region. In Sri Lanka, the genocide against the Eelam Tamils in 2009 has been virtually ignored and the calls for international recognition of Tamil rights, return of refugees to their lands, and a stop to militarization remain urgent. Similarly, in India, regions like Manipur face severe strife where targeted actions against minorities continue, reflecting broader issues of governance and rights abuses.
These regional realities underscore a need for regional actors in Asia and international partners to navigate these complex geopolitical landscapes while advocating for governance structures that promote peace, human rights, and stability.
3. Our Vision and Commitment
As Christians, we are deeply troubled by the human rights abuses and violations of international law that has subverted democracy on a global, regional, and national scale. It is the sacred task of Christians to defend the dignity of every person who are each a child of God and a bearer of God’s image. As such, Christians must work together against rights abuses because they are an affront to God’s gift of human dignity. As such, we pledge ourselves to fulfill God’s justice by standing in solidarity with our siblings struggling for human rights and democracy in their respective countries. To this end, we will continue to strengthen international solidarity in the region.
4. Action Plan Recommendation
As participants to this Congress for Human Rights in Asia, we pledge to:
• Create an Asia-wide Ecumenical Human Rights Network and establish a working group;
• Conduct public witness leadership formation for children and youth;
• Share information on human rights situations and creation of a resource database;
• Support each other’s campaigns on peace and human rights i.e. Campaigns of Burma Platform, Korea Peace Appeal, Int’l Campaign for Just Peace in the Philippines, etc.;
• Coordinate with existing bodies and networks in the Asian Ecumenical Movement (Christian Conference Asia, Taiwan Ecumenical Forum, North East Asia Forum for Peace and People’s Security, Ecumenical Forum for Korea, etc.);
• Launch Pastoral Ecumenical Solidarity Visits;
• Generate support for victims of violations of human rights and international humanitarian law.
May 2, 2024
Participants of the Congress for Human Rights in Asia