The Second World Forum on Hansen’s Disease (HD) was held in COEX, Seoul, Republic of Korea on November 1?3, 2016with the theme, “Shaping Better Future”: Historic Significance of Hansen’s Disease and its Cultural Heritage. The objectives of the Forum were to: form a social consensus on the preservation of tangible and intangible HD cultural heritages; foster international cooperation for alternative use of former HD facilities; put the spotlight on the specific characteristics of HD facilities for those affected and whose lives were influenced by HD; and promote and stimulate endeavors to include HD heritage sites in the UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
The Forum was attended by approximately 600 participants from 18 countries such as Brazil, U.S.A, Greece, Ghana, Japan, etc. At the opening ceremony held on November 1, Mr. Jung Segyun, the speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea, gave a congratulatory address. Mrs. Emma Friezinger was awarded with a special prize at the World Forum on HD, and then Dr. Erwin Cooreman of the Global Leprosy Programme, WHO gave a keynote speech. This was followed by a reading of the Seoul Declaration by representatives from 16 countries, each reading a point in their mother language. Nine topic presentations were discussed in the Forum for three days.
The Forum provided an excellent opportunity to bring together various experts that included researchers, people who experienced HD, government and NGO representatives, and heritage specialists. The Forum allowed these experts to continue discussions on the heritage movement, inform new individuals and organizations about this process, and continue to identify ways to work together to highlight this important event in history.
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