The National Human Rights Commission of Korea(Chairperson Hyun Byung-chul) received letter from the ICC SCA, in which the SCA recommends to defer re-accreditation review of the NHRCK to its session in the first half of 2016.
The NHRCK believes it is regrettable that such recommendation was made despite continued efforts of the NHRCK.
The SCA noted that the amendment draft to the Commission Act, devised by the NHRCK has not been passed yet, while positively evaluated NHRCK's efforts and achievements in devising the amendment draft to the Commission Act, consulting with related agencies and cooperating with civil society.
The SCA stated that during the upcoming selection process of chairperson of the NHRCK, broad participation from diverse social stratum, transparent process and objective standards have to be ensured.
As such, the SCA recognized follow up measures taken by the NHRCK and subsequent result, and at the same time, deferred re-accreditation review to next year, which can be interpreted that the SCA will decide on accreditation of the NHRCK after watching legislation of the amendment draft to the Commission Act and process of new Chairperson. The SCA restated concerns regarding provisions on human rights selection process of the Commission Act.
The NHRCK, after going through pre-legislation process of the amendment draft, is not consulting with related departments. The NHRCK hopes for cooperation from related departments so as to ensure the bill is proposed to the National Assembly. The NHRCK also would like to ask for cooperation and support from the National Assembly for the bill to be passed.
In addition, the NHRCK would like to ask the selection/appointment institutions to try to follow the guideline on selection/appointment of human rights commissioners recommended by the NHRCK during selection process of new commissioners as well as chairperson.
The NHRCK will continue to make its best efforts to implement the ICC SCA recommendation and during the process cooperation with civil society will be continued.
The NHRCK would like to ask for active cooperation from the National Assembly, related departments, and selection/appointment institutions and attention from the public so that the bill will be legislated in the nearest future and the NHRCK receives due evaluation from the international community.
