corners of our society with more humble mind. In 2011, the Commission has completed the 2nd phase of Action Plan for the Promotion of Human Rights (hereafter ‘the Action Plan’) which is the Mid-Term Strategic Plan of the Commission. The Action Plan is designed for the Commission to carry out assigned tasks in a systematic and efficient manner, and has been the basis for its annual work plans. In this sense, in 2011, the Commission committed itself to successfully accomplish nd objectives presented in the 2 phase 3-year plan and to design a forward-looking mid-term plan (2012 to 2014) at the same time. It conducted a strategy and comprehensive review of challenges it expects to face in 3 years in the mid-term or 10 years in the long-term and sought solutions accordingly. 2011 was truly a meaningful year for the Commission to look at its past, present and future simultaneously from a long-term perspective. In addition, steadily carrying out tasks uniquely assigned to itself including investigation, policy measures, education, public relations and cooperation, the Commission as the national human rights institution spared no efforts to present and implement solutions that are relevant to human rights issues at home and abroad as well as the public demands. 1. Basic Direction for Activities The Commission was established with a mission to ‘contribute to the realization of human dignity and worth, the safeguard of the basic order of democracy to ensure the protection of the inviolable and fundamental human rights of all individuals, and the promotion of the standards of human rights.’ Its activities in 2011 were directed toward pursuing 5 strategic objectives and a special project in line with the Action Plan, the 2nd phase of its Mid-Term Strategic Plan. The 5 strategies were: i) assuring the basic freedom in practice ; ii) advancing the rights of the child and the elderly; iii) promoting the rights of economically vulnerable groups; iv) 14 Part I. Introduction