National Human Rights Commission (of Korea) Act Article 2. (3) of National Human Rights Commission Act “discriminatory act violating the right to equality” … without reasonable cause based on gender, religion, disability, age, social status, national origin, marital status, race, thoughts or political opinions, sexual orientation … Enforcement Ordinance, Youth Protection Act Article 92.(6) of the Military Criminal Law defines sexual activities among persons of the same sex in the military as indecent sexual assault, and criminalizes them The Constitutional court ruling in 2011
Activities of the National Human Rights Commission of Korea Education, Awareness-raising activities National organization Specializing in human rights Fact-finding Research Independent organization Investigation, Remedies Quasi-judiciary orgnaization Dialogue with Stake-holders and Activists Quasi -international organization
Domestic and overseas cooperation Domestic and overseas cooperation Recommendations of National Human Rights Commission Policy making Human rights violation and discrimination case against homosexuals in the Military (2006) Discrimination case against sexual minority groups in using local government facilities (2012) Domestic and overseas cooperation Domestic and overseas cooperation
Human Rights Education of National Human Rights Commission Human Rights Films & Books etc. National Human Rights Commission ‘of Korea’ Human rights education courses for public officers, teachers, journalists etc. Human rights education textbooks & contents
Recent issues on sexual and gender minorities Seoul Human Rights Convention (withdrawal) (2014)
Recent issues on sexual and gender minorities A Budget Support (Project) for “Youth Rainbow Support Center” (withdrawal) in SungBukGu (District), Seoul (2014) ♣ 55 thousand USD (citizen participation budget) Anti-discrimination Bill (withdrawal) (2013) Human Rights Education Bill (withdrawal) (2014) ☞ Bias based on sexual orientation, gender identity
Positive changes in a challenging context Changes in attitudes - New bills to modify discriminatory article in the Military Criminal Law - Rulings of Courts Student Human Rights Ordinance Human rights counseling and handling of complaints Pew Research Center [Same-sex marriage] - 18% in 2007 - 39% in 2013