NHRCK plans to carry out Ex-officio investigation on discrimination against persons with disabilities
The National Human Rights Commission of Korea(Chairperson Hyun Byungchul) decided to carry out ex-officio investigation to identify and rectify violation of the right to movement of persons with disabilities in use of aircraft. Cases were reported where persons with disabilities in wheelchair were denied use of aircraft because there were no assistance. In some cases, they were even injured because the wheelchair was overturned due to poor management by the flight attendant who did not know how to use the wheelchair.
On 30 of June, the Disability Discrimination Remedy Committee of the NHRCK decided to carry out the ex-officio investigation as it concluded that despite the right for persons with disabilities to use aircraft in a safe and convenient manner was guaranteed under the Act on the Prohibition of Discrimination Against Disabled Persons, Remedy Against Infringement of Their Rights, Etc and Act on Promotion of the Transportation Convenience of Mobility Disadvantaged Persons, some airline companies restrict their right to movement because of lack of accomodations or person to help.
The NHRCK will carry out the investigation starting from July to September on 7 airline companies, major airports, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, and the Korea Airports Corporation. It will identify discrimination cases on persons with disabilities and devise improvement measures.
Meanwhile, the NHRCK on May 14, 2015 decided to carry out ex-officio investigation on disability discrimination taking place on ship, and is now currently carrying out investigation on the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, and the Ministry of Public Safety and Security and related organizations and companies.
The NHRCK is receiving reports on discriminations in order to identify various forms of discriminations against persons with disabilities using aircraft and ships(airsea@nhrc.go.kr).
