BASPIA English Blog

BASPIA's 2nd Launching Ceremony Highlights

On Friday, November 23, 2007, BASPIA hosted its 2nd Lauching Ceremony at the Press Center near City Hall in Seoul.  Almost 100 BASPIAN members, friends, and family came to enjoy a night of entertainment, reflection, and fellowship.  Please see our Korean blog for more information.

BASPIA TRIP TO CHINA

Co-founder and CEO Haeyoung Lee and Network Program Officer Yeijin Heo are currently on a business trip in China.  They will be in Yanbian for one week and then head over to Beijing for the second week.   More news will be available upon their return. 

Harmonizing Human Rights & Development

Highlights from the First Workshop

August 24-25, 2007

 

 

BASPIA launched its first “Harmonizing  Human Rights and Development” workshop at Korea University, on August 24th, 2007.  The workshop gathered about 30 participants from Seoul, Incheon, Busan, and Gwangju to meet with experts and study complex issues specifically on the topic of utilizing Human Rights-based Approach to Development (RBA) and the UN human rights mechanisms.

The fundamental strength and appeal of the workshop was its structure of combining in-depth UN mechanism training, guest speakers from the field, and thought provoking activities to mesh theory with action.  One participant mentioned that unlike her college classes, the BASPIA workshop used stimulating case studies and group discussions to exercise and solidify understanding.

 

But what did the students come to understand?  Most came to the workshop with almost no exposure to human rights organizations or advocacy.  The rigorous two day schedule started off with training on the UN human rights system, the Treaty Bodies and the ILO.  Then the workshop moved into the Human Rights-Based Approach to Development (RBA) and practical applications through case studies and discussions with guest speakers from NGOs such as Amnesty International and World Vision.  

 

Participant Comments:

 

“[The speakers] touched my heart with their passionate presentations. I didn’t know that there was such a strong, capable NGO in Korea.  [From this conference,] I uncovered my hidden humanity and compassion for others.”

 

“Because of this workshop, I feel like I can be a human rights defender!  I want to work for human rights and development with a genuine heart.”