Information on the Implementation of
the Convention on the Rights of
Persons with Disabilities in the Republic of
Korea
② Due to a delay or lack of development in cognition, communication and sociality, persons with developmental disabilities face difficulties in almost all
spectrums of life, such as learning, interpersonal relations, daily life and economic activities. However, the lack of a protection system or support for them
leaves them highly vulnerable to human rights violations, including abuse,
neglect, and sexual violence as they are not fully capable of protecting themselves. For instance, among 72.8% of counseling cases at the Sexual Violence Counseling Office for Women with Disabilities in 2011 were by persons
with intellectual disabilities, and it was found that 22.5% of women with intellectual disabilities experienced mental or physical violence at least once a
year.
③ The current welfare system is centered around persons with physical disabilities, which leaves most persons with developmental disabilities dependent on
their families. This has long been cited as a point for improvement, and the
community of persons with disabilities has continuously demanded the enactment of the Persons with Developmental Disabilities Bill. In this regard,
the government announced it would enact this bill in 2013 and two different
Members of the National Assembly motioned two bills in this regard, but as of
February 2014, they are still pending at the National Assembly and little progress is being made.
④ National laws and policies for persons with developmental disabilities include
the Children with Disabilities Support Act, Guardianship System, and Plan to
Support Persons with Developmental Disabilities (Ministry of Health and Welfare, 2012), but due to a lack of the quantity of services, gaps according to
region, a supplier-centered service delivery system and a lack of effective
connection between services, they are not receiving adequate support.
2) Recommendation
① It is imperative the government devises the legal basis to prevent the human
rights violations and ensure the rights of persons with developmental disabilities.
NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION OF KOREA
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