NHRCK recommended the Amendment Proposal and the Guideline to the Government and National Assembly
o The NHRCK(Chairperson Hyun Byung-chul) decided at the Plenary Committee on September 22 to recommend the Amendment Proposal to the National Human Rights Commission Act(the “Amendment Proposal”) to the government and National Assembly, which was devised in order to enhance independence and transparency of operation of the Commission.
o The NHRCK also created a Guideline Regarding Principles and Procedures on the Selection/Appointment of Commissioners of the National Human Rights Commission of Korea (the "Guideline") which includes detailed matters inappropriate to be included in the Amendment Proposal and decided to recommend it to the President, Speaker of the National Assembly and Chief Justice of the Supreme Court in charge of appointment and selection of Commissioners.
o The Amendment Proposal includes the following contents: i)selection/appointment process of human rights commissioners shall be transparent and fair, and standing commissioners as well as chairperson shall undergo confirmation hearings; ii) in order to secure diversity in the composition of the Commission, provisions of the Paris Principles shall be reflected to the Commission Act, and the number of female commissioners shall be increased; iii) the Commission shall be given independence and autonomy in organization and budget, iv) other necessary provisions that secure effectiveness of investigation and remedy by the Commission.
o The NHRCK, in order to devise the Amendment Proposal, established and operated a Special Committee on Amendment to the National Human Rights Commission Act from 16 July to 3 September, and received opinion from the academia and civil groups through surveys. On August 22, a public hearing on Amendment Proposal was hosted.
o The NHRCK, in 2008 and 2014, received recommendations from the Sub-Committee on Accreditation of the International Coordinating Committee of National Institutions for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights regarding independence/autonomy of operation, fairness/transparency of selection process of human rights commissioners, diversity in the composition of the Commission and functional immunity for commissioners.
o In response, the NHRCK created the Amendment Proposal in order to fulfill the ICC recommendations and to better carry out its duties of promoting and protecting human rights of Koreans as an independent national institution.
o In addition, given that it is difficult to include every opinion received in the Amendment Proposal, the NHRCK created and recommended the Guideline to the President, Speaker of the National Assembly, and Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.
o The NHRCK recommended them to create internal regulations that reflect the contents of the guideline, and to carry out selection/appointment process of human rights commissioners pursuant to the Guideline even before the establishment of the internal regulations.
o The Guideline prescribes that human rights commissioners shall be independent in performing their duties and cooperate with civil society, and that in order to secure diversity in the composition of human rights commissioners, diverse segments of the Korean society shall be represented.
o In addition, in selection/appointment of human rights commissioners, a candidate selection committee may be established to secure participation from civil society, and the procedure shall be open to the public. The NHRCK recommended the aforementioned contents of the Guideline to the President, National Assembly and Supreme Court, which are institutions in charge of selection/appointment of human rights commissioners.
o The NHRCK hopes for implementation of the Amendment Proposal and the Guideline, and it will make its utmost efforts in order to remain as an independent national institution by cooperating with the government agencies, civil groups and related institutions.
Annex. Progess on and Main Contents of the Amendment Proposal and the Guideline
