○ The National Human Rights Commission of Korea celebrated its 15th anniversary of establishment on 25 November, 2016. The Commission was established in 2001 and since then, it carried out diverse activities to promote and protect human rights as an independent national institution in charge of human rights. It provided advice related to legislation and policies; investigated cases and provided remedies; carried out education and PR activities and cooperated with organizations both at home and abroad.
○ From its establishment in 2001 to 31 October, 2016, the NHRCK has received 778,420 cases of complaints and counseling. As of October 2016, the NHRCK made 4316 recommendations of which 90% were accepted by the respondent.
○ The NHRCK also provided human rights education to 1.23 million people including the prosecution, police, teacher, and journalists through 16,375 rounds of online and face-to-face education.
○ The Commission served as Chair and Deputy Chair of the Asia Pacific Forum of National Human Rights Institutions twice respectively, and is currently Chair of the Working Group on Ageing of the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions. It also devotes its best efforts to implement international human rights standards in Korea including recommendation of establishment of NAP on Business and Human Rights.
○ These days, the Commission is faced with increasing demand from the Korean society to realize human rights in relatively new fields of ICT and human rights and environmental rights.
○ In commemoration of 15th anniversary of establishment, the Commission designated a ‘human rights week’ from 25 November to 10 December to better communicate with the public.
○ On 9 December, the Commission will host the 68th anniversary ceremony of adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights where the Speaker of the National Assembly, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and President of the Constitutions Court will participate along with other famous figures in Korea.
○ The Commission will continue to make its best efforts for the promotion and protection of human rights building upon the lessons it has learned from trials and errors and critics it has receives.
