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Chairperson Ahn, Disabled People's International-Korea Engage in Forum on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
Date : 2007.08.14 00:00:00
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Chairperson Ahn Kyong-Whan of the National Human Rights Commission of Korea (NHRCK) was invited to participate in the Top Executive Leadership Forum by Disabled Peoples' International-Korea (DPI-Korea) on August 6, 2007. The forum was arranged as a response to past concerns about the human rights of persons with disabilities. Chairperson Ahn delivered a lecture during the forum called, "The Age of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and Human Rights."
One of the major goals of the forum was to form a consensus about how to advance the rights of people with disabilities in Korea. The attendees representing various organizations working for the rights of persons with disabilities participated in discussions on past discrimination cases and current and future policies. Chairperson Ahn attended this forum on behalf of the National Human Rights Commission, alongside the Commissioner of DPI—Korea, President Kyung-seop Kim of the Korean Leadership Center and others.
Chairperson Ahn’s lecture highlighted the significance of year 2007, during which the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities was adopted and the National Assembly passed the Disability Discrimination Act in Korea. He also stressed the need to develop an internal framework for supporting the Convention and the Disability Discrimination Act. This framework should not only focus on policy, but also on how to empower persons with disabilities within society, and Chairperson Ahn emphasized that we must not let the importance of the rights of persons with disabilities diminish over time.
Chairperson Ahn’s lecture focused on the problematic nature of securing human rights for minority communities.
“The international community has been making much effort to secure the rights of persons with disabilities. The results of these efforts are the Declaration of Rights for Persons with Mental Disabilities, the Declaration of Rights for Persons with Physical Disabilities and the World Programme of Action for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. However, despite the progressiveness of these declarations and programmes, their legal power is severely limited. I believe that these declarations cannot be the final remedy for securing the rights of oppressed groups.”
Chairperson Ahn also commented on the responsibilities of signatories to UN conventions, saying that each country that signs and ratifies these conventions must legally back the contents to ensure that the convention will be fulfilled. He also explained that the Republic of Korea must understand this and step up to their responsibilities.
Chairperson Ahn and the National Human Rights Commission of Korea have been working closely with the disabled community in order to fulfill the promises in the Convention and the Disability Discrimination Act. The relationship has inspired the establishment of several domestic programs and has led the Commission to push for practical steps that will ensure protection of the rights of persons with disabilities.
The National Human Rights Commission of Korea was established in 2001 to promote human rights education and defend those who have experienced discrimination, or have had a right violated, in Korea. The Commission offers counseling, full investigation and protection for citizens, along with educational initiatives for organizations.
