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DDA Takes Effect on April 11
Date : 2008.04.21 00:00:00
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DDA Takes Effect on April 11
The Anti-Discrimination Against and Remedies for Persons with Disabilities Act (hereafter the "Disability Discrimination Act," "DDA," or "Act") took effect on April 11. The DDA is especially meaningful since its enaction was initiated by a campaign led by persons with disabilities themselves. Embodying their determination to overcome challenges stemming from their disabilities, the Act is their declaration that they have the same human dignity and worth as persons without disabilities and an expression of their hope to enjoy the same human rights.
The Disability Discrimination Act has six chapters and 50 articles and adopts a broad definition of discrimination encompassing direct discrimination, indirect discrimination, and denial of due conveniences. It lays the foundation for establishing a broader definition of discrimination in Korean society. The Act applies this inclusive definition to many aspects of the everyday lives of persons with disabilities and provides for a variety of means of recourse for victims of discrimination.
Now that the DDA is in force, the social environment is expected to improve: social participation by persons with disabilities should increase and they should be able to function as productive members of society. In education, for example, those who provide education are now mandated to provide due conveniences to learners with disabilities so that they can enjoy better access to a broader range of educational opportunities. When it comes to movement and transport, the DDA has clear anti-discrimination provisions, brightening the prospects for the improvement of facilities that have so far been unjustifiably inaccessible to persons with disabilities.
To help ensure that the DDA brings about the intended results, the National Human Rights Commission of Korea (NHRCK; Chair: Ahn Kyong-hwan) plans to step up its role as an agency that redresses discrimination against persons with disabilities and help protect their human rights. The Commission will endeavor to aggressively ascertain improvements that can be made to applicable policies and relevant institutions in light of human rights and help ensure that the improvements are actually made, and carry out more field investigations regarding disability discrimination.
