We, the participants gathered in this historic city of Kwangju at the time of commemoration of those who sacrificed their lives for the cause of democracy and human rights during the Kwangju Massacre of 1980 and on the occasion of declaring the ASIAN HUMAN RIGHTS CHARTER (A People’s Charter),

Considering that an eminent Catholic Bishop John Joseph of Pakistan sacrificed his life on 6 May 1998 to protest against the blasphemy laws of Pakistan and call for their repeal,
Considering that the life and liberty of many prisons are threatened by these laws,
Considering that these laws violate the basic principles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other United Nations instruments on human rights,
Considering that these blasphemy laws create tensions between communities and increase religious tensions,
We call upon all the governments of Asia which possess such laws to repeal such laws.
We particularly call upon the government of Pakistan to repeal its blasphemy laws as it is the country that has used these laws repeatedly in recent times against the non- Muslims.

We call upon the United Nations, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), regional organisations and regional governments, particularly the U.N. secretary general and the U.N. High Commissioner on Human Rights to take more active part in getting such laws repealed.

Signatories

Dr. Lao Mong Hay, Cambodia; Dr. Kek Galabru, Cambodia; Ms. Ceu Federer, Australia/East Timor; Mr. Sonny Inbaraj, Australai/Malaysia; Sr. Mariani Dimaranan, Philippines; Mr. Romulo Peralta, Philippines; Ms. Jean Nacpil-Manipon, HongKong; Ms. Songsan Udomsilp, Thailand; Mr. Somchai Homlaor, Thailand; Mr. Boonthan Verawange, Thailand; Ms. Rosline Costa, Bangladesh; Mr. Tapan K. Bose, India; Justice Krishna Iyer, India; Mr. Pramod Kaphley, Bhutan/Nepal; Mr. Subodh Pyakurel, Nepal; Mr. Brig. Rao Abid Hamid, Pakistan; Ms. Nimalka Fernando, Sri lanka; Mr. Sunil F. A. Cooray, Sri Lanka; Mr. Wimal Fernando, Sri Lanka; Mr. Jack Clancey, USA/Hong Kong, SAR China; Mr. Law Yuk Kai, Hong Kong, SAR China; Ms. Pang Wai Sum Diana, HKHRC Hong Kong, SAR China; Prof. Yash Ghai, Hong Kong SAR China; Prof. Narihiko Ito, Japan; Prof. Kinhide Mushakoji, Japan; Ms. Mei Hua Chen, Taiwan; Mr. Bo Tedard, Taiwan; Mr. Peter B.H. Ng, Taiwan; Prof. Dr. Molly N.N. Lee, Malaysia; Mr. Lee Jai Eui, South Korea; Mr. Andrew T. Greeley, USA/South Korea; Ms. Chiquette D. Tanazaki, Japan; Mr. Basil Fernando, Mr. Sanjeewa Liyanage, Mr. Sinapan Samydorai AHRC, Hong Kong SAR China.