On November 29, Chairperson Kyong-Whan Ahn of the National Human Rights Commission of Korea (NHRCK) visited the Open Center for Women, a shelter for homeless women. Located in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, the Center not only operates a shelter for homeless women, but provides living space for homeless women with children.
During his visit to the Center, Chairperson Ahn examined the living quarters for homeless women and then had a meeting with them to hear to their complaints about daily difficulties. The women cited safety issues as the most pressing issues since they face higher risk of sexual harrassment and assault. In addition, those at the shelter with children said that they could hardly find a solution to the urgent issue of properly raising and educating their children. The participants also stated that many homeless people still die of cold during the winter even though more shelters and living spaces have recently been opened. They opined that nationwide measures to counter the situation must be devised.
With the onset of winter, the hardest season for the homeless, Chairperson Ahn delivered warm underwear and women" s clothing collected by NHRCK employees to the homeless women to make a small contribution toward their rehabilitation.
The NHRCK has been visiting ‘sites of human rights’ every month to directly contact socially disadvataged groups and minority groups in the dark zone of human rights. The latest visit to the homeless women" s shelter was part of this program. Ahead of the visit, the NHRCK called at the shelters for juvenile defectors from North Korea and mentally disabled persons as well as the families of Kosians, who are children of immigrant women.
