Chapter 1 Improvement of Laws, Regulations, Policies and Practices Section 1. Overview The Commission is empowered to provide remedies for human rights violations and discrimination through individual investigations and suo moto investigations of complaint cases. In addition, the Commission has strived to improve human rights conditions in Korean society pursuant to Articles 4, 7, 19 (1) and 25 of the National Human Rights Commission Act by conducting surveys on human rights conditions, submitting recommendations and opinions on related laws, regulations, policies and practices, as well as facilitating assession to and implementation of international human rights treaties. In order to carry out these tasks, the Commission is empowered to request cooperation from government agencies, local governments, and other public and private organizations (Article 20), hold hearings (Article 23), and submit its opinions on trials that may have a significant impact on the protection of human rights to the competent court or the Constitutional Court (Article 28). In addition, the Commission is mandated to submit an annual report on its activities in the preceding year and a report on current human rights conditions and improvement measures to the President of the Republic of Korea and the National Assembly (Article 29). It also may establish expert committees by areas (Article 12) and advisory bodies (Article 15). In 2010, the Commission dedicated improving laws, regulations, policies and practices related to human rights including economic, social, cultural, civil and political rights. It paid special attention to protecting privacy and the rights of individuals in the information society, which has emerged as a new human rights issue, and the rights of disadvantaged worker groups as well as protecting freedoms that are directly linked to people's daily lives. To this end, the Commission conducted status Chapter 1. Improvement of Laws, Regulations, Policies and Practices 31