The National Human Rights Commission of Korea (NHRCK) held the <Human Rights Leadership Academy> for local assembly members from July 15 to 16 in 2013 to enhance the capabilities of them as human rights defenders.
Meanwhile, the NHRCK made a recommendation that local governments enact or revise the Framework Ordinance on Human Rights to bring it in conformity with the commission’s Human Rights Standard. The main goal of the recommendation was to facilitate the implantation of the framework ordinance for better protection and promotion of human rights in the local community.
Some of the sub-themes of the Academy were as following:
△ The necessity of human rights system in the local community
△ The significance and direction of human rights ordinance of local governments
△ Search for solutions to civil complaints
△ The importance of fostering interaction with residents
At a session held under the theme of the past, present and future of the human rights system, local government representatives including the Busan city Haeundae-gu Council and Seoul city Seongbuk-gu Council shared their experiences of how they had enacted human rights ordinances and carried out human rights activities. Also, an in-depth discussion on how to better respect the human rights of people in the local community was held.
Building on the first Leadership Academy, the NHRCK is going to hold the Second Human Rights Leadership Academy from September 10 to 11.
The NHRCK believes that the Human Rights Leadership Academy will serve as an opportunity to strengthen the role of local assembly members as a human rights defender, and to create an environment in which human rights are better protected.
