o The National Human Rights Commission of Korea (NHRCK), with the aim of exploring measures to enhance participation of women in politics, held a open forum and published a outcome on <Strenghtening the representation for women & Monitoring project on local election> at Rachel Carson's Hall of the Greenfund on 22 July 2014.
o Out of 3,952 elected persons at the 6.4 election, successful women candidates are 854(21.6%), which slightly increased from 18.7% at the last election. Despite the small increase in women's participation in politics, it turns out institutional and situational challenges still exist.
o The NHRCK requested the Korea Women's Political Solidarity to monitor the election campaign of women candidates from 8 regions and analyze reasons why the representation for women in politics stays low.
o The outcome shows that a mandatory nomination system for women and gender quota system at region does not work in a proper manner and man-oriented nomination practices still prevail.
Also, public recognition on independent young women candidates is low. The provision which allows a partner of candidate can together appeal for support and distribute candidate's namecard was pointed out as an example of discriminative elements.
o The NHRCK will examine the actual situation of women's participation in politics at the 6.4 local election and explore ways to expand means of women's participation in politics based on the outcome release of the research and the open forum.
