-Growing concern over low birth rate, population ageing and human rights of the youth and elderly
-Human Rights Ombudsman in Military has to be introduced and NAP on Business and Human Rights has to be established
O National Human Rights Commission of Korea proposed a Written Contribution to the UPR Working Group on 30 March, 2017, in relation to the Universal Periodic Review(UPR) on Republic of Korea by the UN Human Rights Council.
o Universal Period Review is a mechanism that reviews human rights situation of UN member nations and makes recommendations in 4 years and 6 months interval. Republic of Korea was reviewed in 2008 and 2012, and 3rd review is scheduled to take place in November. This year, implementation of 70 recommendations made during the 2nd review will be monitored and additional recommendations will be made in areas that need improvement.
O In the paper, NHRCK dealt with major recommendations from the 2nd review including accession to international human rights treaties, enactment of comprehensive anti-discrimination act, introduction of alternative civilian service and human rights of child, juvenile, and people with disabilities. It also includes its opinion regarding pressing human rights issues in Korea including low birth rate, ageing population, human rights of the elderly, human rights issues in military and business and human rights.
O In the paper, NHRCK emphasized that people’s perception which attributes low birth rate to women or individual not to social structure has to change. In also added that to address this issue, comprehensive measures have to be taken to help women continue to have jobs, increase number of quality state and public daycare centers and encourage men to take paternity leave. Moreover, work and life balance has to be achieved and quality jobs have to be provided to young generation.
o In addition, NHRCK pointed out that the 3rd National Plan on Low Birth Rate and Population Ageing of the government which presents a vision of ‘active aged society’ linked population ageing to decrease of working age population and failed to deal with human rights of the elderly. In particular, government needs to take proactive measures to address elderly poverty and suicide.
o NHRCK also stated that despite diverse efforts, cases of human rights violation continue to take place in military and therefore a human rights ombudsman has to be introduced in NHRCK to deal with human rights issues in military. In addition, it added that NHRCK has to establish a NAP on business and human rights, reflecting recommendations of international community and cases of advanced nations such as the US and Germany.
