2023 Gwangju Human Rights Award, Hong Kong Human Rights Lawyer Chow Hang-tung

Human rights lawyer Chow Hang-tung (37, female), who has led the democracy struggle in Hong Kong and spearheaded memorials for the Tiananmen Square incident victims, has been selected as the recipient of the '2023 Gwangju Human Rights Award.'

At the May Memory Archive of the 5·18 Memorial Foundation in Seo-gu, Gwangju Metropolitan City, Chairman Moon Hee-sang of the 2023 Gwangju Human Rights Award Judging Committee announced the award recipient on the morning of the 2nd.
[Photo by Min Hyun-ki]

The Gwangju Human Rights Award Selection Committee announced on the 2nd at the May 18 Memorial Foundation's May Memory Archive that human rights lawyer Chow Hang-tung was chosen as the awardee.

Chow Hang-tung organized and served as vice-chairperson of the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China, leading candlelight vigils commemorating the victims of the 1989 Tiananmen Square incident in China.

Even after the enactment of the National Security Law, since June 2021, she continued to lead assemblies and was arrested on charges of participating in unauthorized assemblies not approved by Chinese authorities. She was sentenced to 15 months in prison and is currently serving her sentence.

The selection committee explained, "Chow Hang-tung's efforts to resist the anti-democratic and anti-human rights actions of the Hong Kong government and to continue fighting against the system oppressing the people of Hong Kong have become a source of courage and hope for human rights activists worldwide and citizens aspiring for democratic societies, which led to her selection."

The special award recipient is the 'Iranian Teachers' Trade Association,' formed in 2002, which has fought for free education within the country and improved treatment of teachers.

The union was recognized for its dedication to advancing democracy and human rights in Iran, including opposition to mandatory hijab wearing.

A committee official stated, "The detention of Chow Hang-tung and the Iranian teachers must be lifted, and freedom of expression and the rights to peaceful assembly and association must be guaranteed," adding, "We hope that attention and support will provide even a small strength to the journey toward democratization in Hong Kong and Iran."

The award ceremony will be held on the 18th at 7 p.m. at the May 18 Democratic Square in Dong-gu, Gwangju Metropolitan City.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.