The National Human Rights Commission of Korea welcomes recent Memorandums of Understanding from Ewha University and Korea University.
The National Human Rights Commission of Korea (NHRCK) signed two Memorandums of Understanding (MOU) on exchanges for the advancement of human rights education and research with Ewha Womans’ University on November 21, 2007, and with Korea University the following day. The signing of these MOUs designates the two universities as regional hub universities for human rights and education and research in Seoul, South Korea.
With each MOU signed, a university agrees to launch a human rights research institute on their main campuses, and also offer courses on human rights. Additionally, the MOU is expected to aid the universities in their pursuits to become part of the new law school system in Korea, which will be implemented in 2008.
The Commission envisions regional hub universities for human rights serving as strongholds for the establishment of human rights communities in their regions and nurturing future lawyers, civil servants, teachers and medical practitioners with a high degree of sensitivity to human rights.
Ewha Womans’ University will focus on human rights related to the life of women and Korea University plans to emphasize the cultivation of human rights law experts and research.
The highlights of each memorandum include:
-Elevating the role of regional hub universities through human rights education and research;
-Increasing cooperation in carrying out human rights education;
-Establishing collaboration in researching human rights issues in the local community;
-Increasing the exchange of materials on human rights;
-Increasing human resources exchanges;
-Implementing student internship programs for law school students specializing in human rights law.
The Commission views universities as key for establishing human rights in Korean society and has begun establishing MOUs with universities across the nation. Universities contain the human and physical resources for human rights education, and with proper interaction with the Commission, can play a pivotal role in promoting respect of human rights in Korea.
Chonnam National University (Gwangju and Jeonnam Province) was designated as the first-ever regional hub university in December 2006, and Yeungnam University (Daegu and Gyeongbuk Province), Inha University (Incheon) and Hanyang University (Seoul) recently entered agreements. Seoul now has three universities with MOUs with the Commission.
The Commission expects that Seoul will serve as the center of a nation-wide network for human rights education and research in the future.
The National Human Rights Commission of Korea was established in 2001, offering investigation and remedy services for Korean citizens and foreigners residing in Korea against human rights violations and discrimination. The Commission provides policy recommendations and remedial action against human rights infringements, collaborates with international human rights organizations and implements educational programs to improve the human rights culture.
