2008.10.06
As the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) proposed the ‘Dignity and Justice for Detainees Week’ (6-12 October 2008) for celebration of the 60th anniversary of the UDHR and encouraged all State members to participate in the Detention Initiative, the National Human Rights Commission of Korea (NHRCK) attempted to promote the right of detainees by officially investigating correctional institutions and holding discussion forums on foreign detainees and human rights.
Across this week, the Commission launched its official investigation on correctional institutions that have been petitioned for overpopulated and inferior conditions, including lack of space for outdoor exercise and inadequate accommodations for persons with disabilities. Throughout the investigation, the Commission plans to make policy suggestions to guarantee detainees outdoor exercise and ameliorate overcrowding and inferior conditions of correction institutions in charge of persons with disabilities.
In the meantime, the Commission held a discussion forum on 'Foreign Detainees and Human Rights' on October 6, 2008. The Ministry of Justice has rigidly reinforced regulations on undocumented foreigners to reduce their number by 200,000 (220,000 at present) and aimed to revise the Immigration Control Law which allows for questioning of a suspicious person without limitations. Through the discussion forum, the Commission attempted to raise awareness for immigrants and find policy solutions regarding the current detention issues regarding the Immigration Control Law.
