WE, lawyers and citizens of Asia and the Pacific and other regions of world,
meeting at Seoul in the Republic of Korea, for the Fourth Conference of Lawyers in Asia and the Pacific (COLAP4) on September 2~3, 2005;

EMPHASIZING that peace on the Korean peninsula and in Asia and the Pacific region is vital for the world peace,
RECOGNING that the Continent of Asia is undergoing a dramatic economic transformation accompanied by wars of aggression on the people of Asia,

CONFIRMING the need for peace and solidarity movements to secure human rights,

CONVINCED that we can build interdependent relations to contribute to world peace and development,

HAVING EXCHANGED VIEWS and arrived at a common perception on the perspective for "Peace, Human Rights, and Co-existence in Asia and the Pacific."

Adopt unanimously the following declaration

1. The right to live in peace must be guaranteed for realization of human rights of the people in Asia and the Pacific and conflicts and disputes between nations and peoples should be prevented and resolved by peaceful means, within a fair and just framework of dialogue and negotiations, on the basis of equality of nations and peoples.

2. We condemn the United States led wars of aggression in Afghanistan, and in Iraq for economic, political and military dominance of the region with the use of weapons illegal in accordance with international law. We call for immediate withdrawal of United States military forces from Iraq and Afghanistan and troops of other countries, including military forces of Korea and Japan from Iraq. We support the right of the people of Iraq, Palestine, and Afghanistan to self-determination; and call for restoration of democracy in Nepal and Burma.
　　
3. We oppose the impositions of sanctions, including economic and political sanctions on the people of any country, under the pretext of eliminating weapons of mass destruction; we also oppose alleged anti-terrorism measures which violate human rights of the people in countries where these measures are imposed.

4. Defense pacts and agreements of rival governments entered into in several regions of Asia including the race for nuclear and conventional armaments, are leading to heightened mutual suspicions. The ongoing military exercises recently conducted in the region are escalating tension and militarization. The US military strategy of rapid forces deployment and military bases in various Asian countries are accelerating military alliances, and are a threat to the peaceful existence of the people of Asia.

5. We oppose the change of Article Nine of Constitution of Japan, as the principle of pacifism embodied in Article Nine reflects the constitutional guarantee of the people of Japan to the people of Asia and the Pacific to prevent the reoccurrence of another aggressive war. Distortion of history should be refrained from, as it prohibits future generations from correctly understanding Japan's war responsibility. The principle of Article Nine of the Constitution of Japan can serve as an inspiration to peoples in the region and throughout the world.

6. Human rights of the people in Asia and the Pacific continue to be violated in many countries and this must be condemned. In the Philippines, several lawyers who represented people's causes and judges have recently assassinated, reflecting on the situation in the region. The rights of migrant workers and casual workers have been disregarded in many countries, [and] this needs to be rectified. Joint efforts and campaigns against multinational corporations and companies violating the basic rights of workers are vital and for this purpose an Asian Human Rights Charter must be drafted.

7. We oppose the ideology of neo-liberal globalization adversely impacting on the lives of workers and farmers, destroying livelihoods, increasing exploitation and hazardous working conditions, with diminishing social security and no health care.

We desire that the dignity of the people of the Asia Pacific region be respected, their aspirations for equality, justice, and democracy be realized.

We believe the peaceful reunification of the Korean peninsula will initiate the continuing process of the peaceful co-existence of peoples in Asia and the Pacific at large.

We pledge our utmost efforts and cooperation for such an initiative.