CIVICUS has written to the President of South Korea to express its deep concern over the judicial harassment and detention of individuals and civil society activists for organizing and participating in protests commemorating the one-year anniversary of the Sewol Ferry tragedy.
In response to the disaster that claimed the lives of 304 people, mostly children, civil society organizations (CSOs) have supported a number of legitimate advocacy initiatives urging the government to establish an independent investigatory commission to examine the causes of the catastrophe. These activities, including hunger strikes, protests, written appeals, statements, and public petitions, were spearheaded by a robust collation of hundreds of civil society groups and families of victims and supported by millions of concerned South Koreans.
To read the letter, please click here.