The National Human Rights Commission of Korea (NHRCK) and Seoul Metropolitan City provided public servants of Seoul city who are in charge of international residents program with a human rights education course for promoting the quality of public service for immigrant’s support as well as human rights sensitivity.
Currently, international residents in Korea are more than 1,440 thousands while the society entered a multi-cultural community. Also, the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination expressed its concern in 2007 on the Korean society highlighting one-nation spirit which deemed to be an obstacle to the promotion of understanding, tolerance and friendship among different nations and States. In this context, the Committee advised the Korean Government to put more effort to make reform in various sectors such as education, culture and information for the diversity of the society.
In line with aforementioned recommendations, NHRCK and Seoul City conducted a human rights education for public officers in charge of international resident program for the better protection of their rights.
This education consists of the following sections; Introduction to Human Rights; National and International Policy on Foreign Residents, and Multiculturalism; and Human Rights Violation and Discrimination Cases against Immigrants and Guidelines for Immigrant’s Human Rights. The course provided an opportunity to examine problems which may frequently occur in everyday life or in the process of utilizing the service. Furthermore, an open debate over critical human rights issues was held among officers and human rights-friendly measures for multiculturalism was discussed during the session.
NHRCK expects the human rights education course for public servants will be expanded starting from this occasion.
