Chairperson Ahn of the National Human Rights Commission of Korea (NHRCK) interviewed with the Korean Times on July 12, 2007. In the interview Chairperson Ahn discussed his opinions about human rights and also expressed his opinion about the role of the Commission in key migration and human rights debates.
The article is as below and also attached.
* The content of this article used with permission from Korea Times. Commission to Strengthen Human Rights of Foreigners By Bae Ji-sook
Staff Reporter
The nation's top policymaker said Wednesday that the government will seek ways of further promoting human rights of foreigners, including migrant workers and multiracial couples and their children.
Ahn Kyong-whan, chief commissioner of the National Human Rights Commission said the commission has decided to put more focus on foreigners in Korea this year.
In an interview with The Korea Times, he stressed that all humans are equal in every way and that they have every right to be treated equally regardless of their skin color or nationality.
`I say we are the only governmental organization having an uncomfortable relationship with other government agencies. We are the watchdogs who always investigate, make complaints and advise them with something they really do not like,'' Ahn said.
The former law professor of Seoul National University said that Korea is facing diversity in races. Statistics show that one out of every eight marriages in Korea last year was multiracial, and the welfare of foreign spouses living in Korea has become an important issue.
The commissioner said that they are also Koreans and they need to be guaranteed all human rights protection. The organization will start with educating them about Korean culture as well as their rights as Koreans.
Ahn also emphasized that the country needs to focus more on official development assistance (ODA).
He went on to say that Korea has gained a great reputation for achieving freedom and a certain level of democracy in a short period, but it still lacks in social welfare and aid to other countries.
"Other countries in the world praise us for our development, but at the same time they wonder that we are very reluctant in helping others outside our boundaries,'' he said.
Ahn was the elected president of Asian Pacific Forum and vice chairman of the International Coordinating Committee of National Human Rights Institutions for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights. ``It made me realize that Korea needs to take more responsibility commensurate with her global status and economic prowess.''
The commission was established in 2001 under the National Human Rights Commission Act. It makes policy recommendations on human rights issues, investigation and remedy of complaints related to human rights infringement.
The independent government organization has been in charge of protecting human rights of migrant workers. Its staff checks whether foreign workers were forced to make false statements or whether violence or other wrongdoings were involved during investigations and deportations.
If any human rights infringement takes place at places of employment, it strongly advises the management to stop such activities, even though employees are illegal residents in Korea.
bjs@koreatimes.co.kr
