Together Let's Create a World Without Disability Discrimination
On April 11 at noon, the eastern part of the Seoul Plaza started to brim with excitement and joy under the banner, "Together Let's Create a World Without Disability Discrimination!" The National Human Rights Commission of Korea (NHRCK; Chair: Ahn Kyong-hwan), hand in hand with groups of and for persons with disabilities, held an event to mark the enforcement of the Anti-Discrimination Against and Remedies for Persons with Disabilities Act, or simply the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA).
Mr. Ahn Kyong-hwan, chair of the NHRCK, declared in his speech, "The effectuation of the Disability Discrimination Act is a major watershed in Korean society in the promotion and protection of the human rights of persons with disabilities." He went on, "The Republic of Korea is only the second nation in Asia to have a disability discrimination act, attracting international attention," but pointed out, "In light of the sweat and tears shed by many persons with disabilities for the DDA to come into being, its enforcement decree has many shortcomings." Chair Ahn pledged, "The NHRCK will make more concerted efforts so that the DDA is not only talk but a living institution integral to everyday life in Korea."
His speech was followed by a congratulatory speech by Mr. Park Gyeong-seok, standing representative of the Solidarity Against Disability Discrimination. Mr. Park said, "I am overwhelmed with emotion to see the enforcement of the Disability Discrimination Act." He added, "I hope the DDA fully lives up to its name and in fact makes persons with disabilities happier." Mr. Park then criticized the Korean government's weak understanding of and efforts to uphold the human rights of persons with disabilities and requested the NHRCK to make sustained efforts for better laws and institutions.
The event was also graced by the presence of such individuals as Mr. Im Jong-hyeok, a person with a visual disability and standing executive commission chair of the Solidarity Against Disability Discrimination; Ms. Gong Ji-young, a novelist and NHRCK PR ambassador; and Mr. Lee Jong-guk, a person with a brain lesion who had filed a complaint with the NHRCK about the civil servant selection testing authority's failure to provide answer sheets designed for persons with disabilities, thereby leading to a remedy. They shared words of encouragement with the audience. In her speech, Ms. Gong Ji-young quoted a phrase, "A country shows its mettle in the way it treats its most vulnerable members," adding, "Those who have not experienced discrimination cannot know the pain of it. I will help the DDA successfully take root in Korean society."
While the event was underway, a range of activities took place near Seoul City Hall to shed light on the meaning of the DDA: people posted their hopes and expectations of the DDA on a big board called the Human Rights Message Board (photo) and took photos with their faces showing through holes on a structure decorated with pictures and photos depicting a world where people with and without disabilities live in harmony. There was also a performance in sign language. Over 300 citizens including persons with disabilities attended the event to celebrate the DDA's coming into effect.
