Recently, diverse media reported a case where a person with intellectual disability was forced to work for 19 years in cattle shed without properly being paid. He was forced to stay in a small room right next to the cattle shed with smell of feces and abused by the owner of the farm like a slave.
Only two years ago, we have witnessed forced labor, abuse and overdue wage against people with disabilities working in salt pond. In addition, last year, a head of welfare facility infringed upon human rights of a resident with disabilities by continuously beating and even locking up him in a dog house.
The Korean society have continued to step up its effort to enhance human rights situation of people with disabilities by laying institutional foundation for welfare and human rights of people with disabilities and enhancing social perception on them. However, human rights infringements against people with intellectual disabilities continue.
This case shows where our society is now in terms of respect for human rights of people with disabilities. It shows indifference of local community, disrespect for dignity of people with mental disabilities who are unable to ask for help even when they are forced to work or abused, people who take advantage of intellectual or mental disabilities for undue profit and lack of protective system from the government.
In a bid to fundamentally eradicate human rights infringement against people with disabilities, all members of our society should fundamentally change how we view people with disabilities and how we act for them. We need to acknowledge them as equal member of our society, respect them as a human being with autonomy and to treat them equally.
This case shows how the protective system for people with intellectual disabilities lacks behind. The NHRCK concluded that this case is a very serious human rights infringement and conducted on-site investigation on July 19 in order to identify the progress and measures to address. Through on-site investigation, it was concluded that there is a need to identify the living condition of unregistered people with mental disabilities, change perception of related public official for immediate relief from human rights infringements and improve human rights sensitivity of citizens to report human rights infringements against people with mental disabilities.
This case led to a complete enumeration survey on living condition of people with mental disabilities from July 20 and August 31. The Commission hopes for thorough and nationwide survey and also wishes that this case can serve as an opportunity to look for every corner of our society to better protect human rights of un-registered people with mental disabilities.
The Commission will investigate and provide remedy for human rights infringement against people with disabilities and will carry out human rights education to related public officials and citizens to enhance protection system for people with mental disabilities.
Lastly the NHRCK wishes that all of us can take this opportunity to change our perception towards people with disabilities and to pay more attention as a whole to human rights of people with disabilities.
