The National Human Rights Commission of Korea(Chairperson Lee Sungho) devoted its best efforts to better protect human rights of the socially underprivileged, and such efforts were acknowledged by the international community, thereby enhancing Korea’s reputation regarding human rights.
However, despite such efforts that the Commission has made both domestically and internationally, the ICC deferred accreditation review on the Commission, encouraging the Commission to devise measures to guarantee diversity of composition of human rights commissioners and transparency of selection process and to newly create a provision on immunity for members of the Commission.
Accordingly, the Commission drew up a Partial Amendment to the National Human Rights Commission Act which includes provisions on guaranteeing diversity of composition of human rights commissioners and transparency of selection process, detailed qualification for human rights commissioners and immunity for remarks made during official duties. The Act was proposed to the National Assembly after going through deliberation at the cabinet meeting and approved by the President.
The Third Committee of the General Assembly adopted a resolution which recommends expanded participation of the NHRIs that conform to the Paris Principles to related UN mechanisms including the Commission on the Status of Women, the Conference of State Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the Open-ended Working Group on Ageing. As such, it recognizes role of the NHRIs regarding follow up measures to encourage implementation of recommendation from the international human rights mechanisms including the UN.
The international community including the UN is calling for establishment and strengthening of role of the NHRIs, and under these circumstances, result of the ICC accreditation is essential for the Commission to actively carry out its mandate at the global stage, and it also affects Korea’s international reputation.
That is why the Commission asked the Speaker of the National Assembly and floor leaders of both ruling and opposition parties for cooperation, expecting that the revised bill will pass the 19th National Assembly. However, the bill has not been proposed to the Steering Committee yet, even though related material have to be submitted to the ICC by 15 of January 2016 for reaccreditation review.
Hence, the Commission would like to ask the Speaker of the National Assembly and floor leaders of both ruling and opposition parties to pass the bill at the 19th or extra Session of the National Assembly at the earliest possible date.
