Statement in Response to Violence by Korean Authorities to 10th ICAAP Delegates

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For the last 30 years it has been recognized that without the voices and involvement of all levels of civil society there cannot be an effective global response to HIV/Aids. ICAAP organizing committee and UNAIDS has been charged with the responsibility of ensuring the involvement of our voices at all levels. We are astounded that the committee saw fit to allow South Korean authorities to firstly pose as other delegates and then proceed to initiate violent arrests when faced with a peaceful demonstration within the ICAAP facilities. We were further shocked and outraged to hear that UNAIDS failed to offer proper support and follow up.

 

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The shameful footage which has gone around the world, exposes not only the extremes of the South Korean police but also an absence of protection and support from ICAAP organizing committee and the silence of UNAIDS.

 

We join with others in condemning the violence used to silence civil society, ICAAP's neglect for their participants security and safety and UNAIDS passive acceptance and betrayal of the HIV community.

We join with the call on ICAAP organizers to release a statement telling us why the police were present in the ICAAP, the place for discussion and finding solution for
HIV/AIDS issues. Why the organizing committee allowed the police presence and did not take any action to protect people from police harassment.

 

·         Finally, we are asking all of UN agencies especially UNAIDS to respond and prevent the unjustifiable police actions against basic rights of people living with HIV/AIDS.

·         We ask the head of Busan police office to formally apologize for the illegal police surveillance and violence.

·         We also ask the head of the Busan police office to formally apologize for the brutal police action on women, sex workers and transgender people.

·         We ask Jin Suhui, the head of the ministry of health and welfare, to  apologize that public discussions and peaceful demonstrations at ICAAP conference were threatened and intimidated by the police.

·         We ask the organizing committee of ICAAP, the head of the Busan police office, and the head of the ministry of public health to prevent any further  police surveillance and violence and to ensure that every participants at
ICAAP can join any kinds of civil actions and public discussion without any harrassment and intimidation by police.

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