Session
Human Rights across Asia: Dilemmas and Solutions
Time
- 17:10 ~ 18:30
Organization
- East Asia Foundation
Room
- Yeongju A
As Asian countries emerge from the shadow of the Covid pandemic, the question of how to improve human rights across the region is reemerging with new salience. Ethnic and religious minorities such as the Uyghurs and Rohingya face severe discrimination, while North Koreans as a whole lack basic rights taken for granted elsewhere. The return to power of the Taliban poses questions about systemic oppression of women in Afghanistan, and LGBTQ+ groups are fighting for toleration in numerous Asian countries. Meanwhile, the boost to surveillance powers given by the pandemic has raised concerns about individual freedom even in 'advanced' liberal democracies. Facing a daunting list of human rights challenges, what can be done to ensure human security, expand political liberties, and enhance human flourishing? What do Asians have to contribute to the larger global quest for a more just world?