Korea Makes Little Progress in Human Rights, Group Says

By Chung Ah-Young
Staff Reporter, The Korea Times, 13 September 2004

The National Human Rights Commission of Korea (NHRC) has played a limited role due to a lack of independence and transparency, according to a report released Monday by the India-based Asia Pacific Human Rights Network (APHRN). Ravi Nair, author of the report and coordinator of the APHRN, said that the NHRC has suffered from statutory limitations since its inception without consensus among civic groups.

“The NHRC Act contains notable legislative weaknesses that hamper the commission's capacity to preserve autonomy and political independence,” Nair said. He released the report to the media during a forum, one day before the opening of the four-day International Conference for National Human Rights Institutions, which is organized by the NHRC in Seoul. “The NHRC Act does not provide institutional guarantees for transparent deliberation of the appointment process (for commissioners) or consultation with civil society,” Nair said. He pointed out that the government's legislatively sanctioned undemocratic appointment practice rendered the human rights commission vulnerable to political influence and damaged the panel's credibility from the outset. The report also revealed that the quality of work and petitions under way are seriously hampered by insufficient human resources as most positions are currently filled by part-time commissioners. “Due to shortcomings arising from structural problems, Korea has failed to improve its human rights situation, especially of controversial issues such as the revision of the National Security Law, the treatment of conscientious objectors and the treatment of foreigners,” Nair said. The commission has made 16 recommendations on legislation relevant to human rights, including the National Security Law, but only four were accepted, four were partially accepted, five were rejected, and three are still under review, according to the report. Nair also noted that Korea's current legal controversy over conscientious objection is a good example of the commission's shortcomings in fulfilling its mandate to investigate and make recommendations based on petitions for human rights violations and discriminations. The APHRN recommended that the appointment of commissioners should be made publicly in consultation with the civil society and according to clear and specific rules that guarantee plurality, transparency and fairness.

“The NHRC should expand its branches to other regions to enable foreigners wider access to human rights institutions and pay more attention to human rights issues outside Korea,” Nair also said.chungay@koreatimes.co.kr 09-13-2004 17:22

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