In celebration of the International Migrants’ Day, Chairperson Kyong-Whan Ahn delivered a special message.
“This year, we celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), the most beautiful promise of mankind. The International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families has so far been ratified by 39 countries and is fast becoming an international basis for human rights in multicultural societies. As migration policy reflects the country’s level of human rights protection, Korean society should work towards implementing the international standards.” said the chairperson Ahn.
He added that
“On the day the Commission introduced the Seoul Guidelines in November 2008, government’s raids on illegal migrant workers took place in Masuk, Gyeonggi province. The crackdown was a scene incompatible with Korea’s status as the 10th largest economy in the world and certainly inappropriate for a nation trying to advance its human rights. On 18 June 2008, the Commission held a commemoration ceremony for the 60th anniversary of the UDHR and other human rights-related events took place during second half of the year 2008. As a result, general public was introduced to the noble spirit of the UDHR and a foundation for the implementation of international human rights standards was built upon. The Commission reaffirmed its commitment to the protection and promotion of human rights in a multicultural society by stating that the Seoul Process would provide a critical opportunity for the promotion of migrants’ human rights in Korea.”
