The NHRCK Welcomes Decision on Its Continued Independence
The National Human Rights Commission of Korea (NHRCK) publishes a commentary welcoming the new government's decision to withdraw its plan to change the Commission's independent status as follows:
On February 20, the ruling and opposition parties rounded off their negotiations on the Government Organization Law, finally agreeing to leave the NHRCK independent. We at the Commission heartily welcome the decision. We are also truly grateful that the political community put top priority on that issue over the other numerous items on the agenda. The decision once again publicly confirms the outcome of the debate that had been on-going during the three years before the commission was created seven years ago, and it drives home a clear message that independence is one of the most important attributes of a national human rights commission at home or abroad.
Believing that the recent contention over its independence stemmed from a lack of understanding of the nature and functions of a national human rights commission, the NHRCK actively recounted why a national human rights commission should be independent. In the process, the Paris Principles, which clearly emphasized the importance of the independence of national human rights agencies, received renewed attention, and an extensive shared understanding was established on the need for an independent agency that the traditional argument for "separation of powers" cannot cover. We at the NHRCK greatly appreciate the ruling and opposition camps reaching the agreement through the democratic process of discussion and opinion collecting. We will do our utmost to make society even more aware of human rights in light of its ever-increasing high expectations of the Commission.
When it was inaugurated, the new administration presented a vision of Korea becoming a truly advanced country. In that the competitiveness of a country will in the future be assessed according to global standards, the human rights conditions of a country will constitute a critical index to measure how advanced the country is as the international community is increasingly raising its voice over human rights. Under these circumstances, the NHRCK, which has been a model for developing countries, is a truly valuable asset the Republic of Korea can boast of in the international community. The Commission will make multifarious efforts to help the new government advance the country, not only on the economy front but also on the human rights front.
We at the NHRCK anticipate that the debate over its independence will reach higher grounds. Now that the contention over independence has been clearly settled in terms of where it should belong and what activities it will conduct, an institutional framework that practically ensures the Commission's independence in the personnel, budgetary, and organizational areas should also be in place. When the right time comes, the Commission will raise the issue along with its review opinions and request the government and the National Assembly to offer their full cooperation on this issue of more extensive independence.
Over the past month or so, many people joined forces with the NHRCK to ensure it remained independent. We at the Commission extend our gratitude for the fervent support from political parties, scholars, lawyers, journalists, religious leaders, and women's rights advocates. We especially appreciate the human rights groups, who were more than ready and willing to rally behind the Commission despite the cold weather of this winter. We are also deeply grateful for the international community's interest and encouragement. As we are now weighed down with all the overflowing support and encouragement from all of you, everyone at the National Human Rights Commission of Korea has an even more noble sense of responsibility, and we at the Commission hereby make a solemn commitment to work even harder as the upholders of human rights in Korean society.
February 21, 2008
Ahn Kyong-hwanChair of the National Human Rights Commission of Korea
