1. Torture Prevention Project
of the NHRC of Korea
August 2015.
Torture Prevention Ambassador
Young-Hye, Kim

2. Contents of TPP – Integrate with NHRCK’s regular tasks
Table of Contents
Why TPA?
Contents of TPP – Integrate with NHRCK’s regular tasks
Challenges of TPP
Contributions to TPP
Overview of TPP
Achievements of TPP

3. “broader range of human rights infringement”
I. Why TPA ?
To share practices of Korea regarding prevention of
torture and ill-treatment
Reality: different perspectives among nations when it comes
to torture prevention agenda
Rapid social changes of Korea for the last two decades
The direction is set to reflect the social changes in Korea.
“apathetic one”
To seek a sustainable role of torture prevention agenda
in response to changes
physical torture
“broader range of human rights infringement”
eg) violence, excessive crackdown, verbal abuse, etc. 3

4. II. Contents of TPP
Integrate its agenda with regular tasks of the NHRCK
 With its limited financial resource of TPP
The project aims to enable management of
human and financial resources.
TPP
“Article 25 of the National Human
Rights Commission Act”
mandates the NHRCK to conduct On-site
investigation
on-site investigation
(more than 20 detention facilities every year)
Human rights education and survey 4

5. “reflect the social changes in Korea”
III. Challenges of TPP
“Low public and media awareness of torture prevention”
Torture is considered an issue of the past
Measures
“reflect the social changes in Korea”
“Human rights violation in the military such as violent bullying
and harassment among soldiers”
The public pays much attention to military issues 5

6. Immigration Processing Centers Increasing influx of immigrants
III. Challenges of TPP
Immigration Processing Centers
Increasing influx of immigrants
“Growing interests”
As of 2015
Migrant workers
Marriage immigrants
Illegal immigrants
620,000
150,000
220,000

7. IV. Contributions to TPP
The National Assembly established “the Special Committee on
Military and Human Rights”(31.Oct. ‘14)
A revised bill to the National Human Rights Commission Act
To set up a “Military and Human Rights Ombudsman” within the NHRCK (30. July ’15)
Once the bill is passed, the Commission will be able to include the military in the on-site investigation
Social media network
To raise awareness of torture prevention among youths 7

8. V. Overview of TPP Purpose
Prevention of torture and ill treatment in Korea
Slogan
“Torture Prevention: from Remedy to Prevention”
TPP
On-site Investigation
OP-CAT
Torture Prevention Education
Torture Prevention Promotion 8

9. On-site Investigation of Detention and Protective Facilities
V. Overview of TPP
On-site Investigation of Detention and Protective Facilities
Purpose of
On-site
Investigation
To prevent torture and ill-treatment
To find solutions for identified issues
How to
Investigate
Subject
Treatment for inmates
Hygienic conditions
Methods
Paper Survey
Field Investigation
Interview(inmates and staffs) 9

10. On-site Investigation of Detention and Protective Facilities
V. Overview of TPP
On-site Investigation of Detention and Protective Facilities
Progress
A plan for on-site investigation was set up (March)
22 institutions to be investigated in 2015 (USD 46,000)
The NHRCK’s On-site investigation
53 detention centers and 5,600 mass care facilities are subject to the investigation
3 Immigration Processing centers
6 military mental health centers and correctional institutions
3 youth detention centers
Institute of Forensic Psychiatry
3 senior nursing homes
6 mental health care centers
Establishment of investigation teams and preparation work (July)
Data request
Schedule confirmation
Checklist and key findings 10

11. On-site Investigation of Detention and Protective Facilities
V. Overview of TPP
On-site Investigation of Detention and Protective Facilities
On-site investigation (Aug. and Sep.)
Immigration Processing Centers were completed
※ TPA visited Cheongju shelter
On-site investigation for other facilities will be finished in Sep.
On-site Investigation in Cheongju 11

12. Research on measures to join the OP-CAT
V. Overview of TPP
Research on measures to join the OP-CAT
Objective
Encourage Korea’s accession to the OP-CAT
Contents
“Implementation status of the OP-CAT in state parties and ways for Korea’s accession to the OP-CAT”
Budget
USD 24,500 12

13. Research on measures to join the OP-CAT
V. Overview of TPP
Research on measures to join the OP-CAT
Progress
Select and contract with a research institute (March)
Interim report on progress of the research (June)
Analysis of the OP-CAT and issues on Korea’s accession
to the OP-CAT
Issues : protection of military secret
provision of special rights to NPM staff
Plans
Final report on result of the research(Sep.)
Presentation and debate on result of the research (Oct.) 13

14. Torture Prevention Education
V. Overview of TPP
Torture Prevention Education
Objective
Provide education to people in charge of tasks with high
possibility of occurrence of torture during execution to
prevent occurrence of torture and ill-treatment
Contents
Integrate torture prevention education to human rights
education curriculum for police and military
Methods
Instructors from the NHRCK or TPA provide education
based on CAT related cases
Human Rights Education (annually)
68 courses, 270 times, Budget: USD 630,000 14

15. Torture Prevention Education
V. Overview of TPP
Torture Prevention Education
Progress
Human rights instructor
in military
Workshop for human rights investigators at the National Police Agency (March)
Investigation and Human Rights
- Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency (March)
Enhance human rights sensitivity of police officers (March - June)
Student at law school (July)
Human rights education instructors in military
(Year-around)
Education for student at law schools
Plans
Human rights education instructor in military (Year-around)
Human rights sensitivity of police (lecture by TPA, September)
Human rights sensitivity of military (lecture by TPA, October) 15

16. PR on Torture Prevention
V. Overview of TPP
PR on Torture Prevention
Objective
Strengthen torture prevention activities through enhancing
awareness
Methods
Contribution to daily magazine and internet, and meeting with
high-ranking officials
Plans
Produce and disseminate leaflets on the CAT and prevention of
ill-treatment (Sep.) 16

17. PR on Torture Prevention
V. Overview of TPP
PR on Torture Prevention
Progress
Meeting with the Navy Chief :
 Discussion on prevention of violence in military (31 March)
Meeting with the Vice-minister of Justice :
 Encourage accession to the OP-CAT (17 August)
Meeting with the Navy Chief
Meeting with the Vice-minister of Justice 17

18. PR on Torture Prevention
V. Overview of TPP
PR on Torture Prevention
Progress
Contribution of TPA to daily newspaper
(Seoul Newspaper) on the UN Day in
Support of Victims of Torture
(26 June)
Introduction of TPP and enhancement
of awareness on torture 18

19. PR on Torture Prevention
V. Overview of TPP
PR on Torture Prevention
Progress
‘Online Quiz Event’ on the UN Day in
Support of Victims of Torture (June)
Facebook Quiz, “Fill in the Blank”
Reaches , Participation 1874,
ice-cream gifticon to 50 people 19

20. VI. Achievements of TPP
Importance of direct communication with the heads of institutions
Effectiveness of direct awareness through constructive dialogue
The meeting with the Vice-minister of Justice
Sustained function of the CAT was discussed
Accession to the OP-CAT was encouraged
Navy Chief invited TPA for high commanders in Navy
to provide human rights education
Q & A session on cases of human rights violation in military
Practical measures to address the issues 20

21. VI. Achievements of TPP
Meeting with executives of institutions during on-site investigations
Encouraged improvement of management of the facility and lack of
shielding facilities in toilet
Major concerns reported by institutions:
 wage claims/ remedy for industrial accidents/ medical treatment
Integration of torture prevention in human rights education
for police and military
Contents on abuse of physical power during arrest of the accused or crack down of demonstration
violence, bullying, sexual harassment in military
Meaningful material on torture prevention in Korea at APF and APT 21

22. Thank You