Upon the entry into force of the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) in South Korea, the National Human Rights Commission of Korea (NHRCK) held a discussion session on Friday, January 12, 2006 to explore ways to effectively implement the Optional Protocol in Korea as well as to raise public awareness and understanding of its contents and the institutions involved.
The Optional Protocol to the CEDAW engenders a system of " individual communication" under which an individual, whether a citizen of a State party (also called Signatory) or a foreign national in its jurisdiction, may file a complaint directly with the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women in the event of any breach of rights guaranteed by the Convention or failure to fulfill any of the obligations imposed by the Convention by the State party. Further, the Protocol includes " inquiry procedures" by which the Committee may initiate a suo moto investigation with agreement by the State party in the case of a grave and systematic violation of human rights.
Following South Korea" s ratification of the Optional Protocol to the CEDAW on October 18, 2006 and the Protocol" s entry into force in Korea on January 18, 2007, the NHRCK offered a venue for discussion where experts and other persons concerned could learn how the Protocol would impact women" s human rights in Korea and find ways to effectively implement the Protocol.
Dr. Hei-Soo Shin, a member of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women and human rights commissioner of the NHRCK, delivered a presentation entitled " An Outline of the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and International Protection of Women" s Human Rights," while Professor Bok-Hee Chang of the Catholic University of Korea made a presentation on " A Review on the implication of the accession to the CEDAW optional protocol in Korean Law" Dr. Hyoung-Seok Cho, a deputy-director on the International Human Rights team of the NHRCK, addressed the issue of " Legal Effectiveness of Individual Communication and Its Procedures." On the discussion panel were Dr. In-Soon Cha, the Legislative Counsel of the National Assembly Gender Equality and Family Committee; Mr. Min-Gi Kim, a judge of the Seoul Eastern District Court; Ms. Sun-Hye Kang, the director of the International Relations team at the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family; Dr. Seon-Yeong Park, a director of the Women" s Legal Center of the Korean Women" s Development Institute; and Ms. Nam Yun In Sun, the Standing Representative Director of the Korea Women" s Associations United.
The NHRCK plans to utilize the findings of the discussion to facilitate the full implementation of the CEDAW and the advancement of women" s human rights in Korea.
