The National Human Rights Commission of Korea (NHRCK) hosted a program to strengthen partnerships between National Human Rights Institutions (NIs), and enhance the capacities of the human rights officers, from September 3 – 7, 2007 at the National Human Rights Commission of Korea headquarters in Seoul, Korea. The program was organized to provide NI staff members with an opportunity to experience and examine the Korean Commission’s work, while also offering the opportunity for staff members to discuss common concerns related to their operation.
This 2007 program was attended by NI staff members from Nigeria, Afghanistan and East-Timor. The chiefs of the Mazar-e-Sharif regional office and the Kandahar regional office of the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission participated in the program, along with Deputy Provedor of the Timor Leste Office of the Provedor(ombudsman) for Human Rights and Justice, Legal Officer and Investigation Officer from the Nigeria Human Rights Commission. In particular, Akper Peter Terkaa, special assistant to the Attorney General of Nigeria, joined this program with big interest in the field of Human Rights
Although the program was established to strengthen inter-relations between NIs, major focus was given to strengthening cooperations and capabilities of NIs hoping to increase the effectiveness of their work. The participants held meetings with various bureaus and teams within the Korean Commission, in which they discussed recommendations for human rights policies, investigations of civil rights and discrimination, and human rights education. It is hoped that focusing on professional development within active NI staff members will increase opportunities to observe activities, expand networks and improve the overall quality of NI activities by learning from the successes and failures of others.
In addition to the events at the Korean Commission in Seoul, the participants visited the De-Militarized Zone (DMZ), the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the Human Rights Department of the National Police. This tour was provided to give the visitors a brief introduction to the historical situation of human rights conditions on the Korean peninsula.
The National Human Rights Commission of Korea was established in 2001 to promote human rights education and defend those who have experienced discrimination, or have had their right violated, in Korea. The Commission offers counseling, full investigation and protection for residents, along with educational initiatives for organizations.
