National Human Rights Commission of Korea (NHRCK) attended the conference of the ICC (International Coordinating Committee of National Institutions for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights) held on October 23 and 24 and the 8th International Conference for National Human Rights Institutions held on October 25-27. Commissioner Hye-Su Shin represented the NHRCK at both events.
Participants in the latest ICC (International Co-ordinating Committee of National Institutions for the promotion and protection of Human Rights) conference discussed the issue of granting those countries fully complying with the Paris Principles a say in meetings of the UN Human Rights Council as well as the issue of activating an ICC early warning system to give alerts of any sign of government intervention in or crackdown on national human rights institutions regarding their functions or budgets. In addition, the attendees engaged in in-depth discussion on setting up the ICC" s permanent office in Geneva.
The 8th International Conference for National Human Rights Institutions was held for three days in Santa Cruz, Bolivia. The major issue discussed was migration. The participants adopted the Santa Cruz Declaration on Migration. Its major details are as follows: (i) each member nation will endeavor to guarantee all people" s human rights and basic freedoms; (ii) each NI (national institution) will strive to offer legal protection to all migrants, prohibit any discrimination against them, and proactively provide them with equal treatment; (iii) NIs will endeavor to create a society that respects diversity; (iv) NIs will play an important role in raising public awareness of the causes of migration including economic, political, social, cultural, historical, and other factors; (v) NIs will establish a strategic partnership regarding migration based on domestic and overseas cooperation; (vi) NIs will commission the OHCHR (Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights) to conduct an investigation into the status of NI activities that set an example for migrant control; and (vii) NIs will promote researches into the actual status of aborigines, minorities, and other migrants.
During the International Conference for National Human Rights Institutions, in particular, the NHRCK received congratulatory video messages from representatives of overseas NIs to be shown in a ceremony celebrating its 5th anniversary. Among those who actively cooperated with the NHRCK in the shooting of those messages are Morten Kjaerum, chairman of the ICC as well as the chairpersons of the NIs in the Philippines, Australia, and New Zealand. These congratulatory video messages were shown during the ceremony marking the 5th anniversary of NHRCK, drawing applaud from the audience.
