In its 2007 Policy Recommendation to Protect and Promote Human Rights of Student
Athletes, the Commission recommended to shift the focus of sports policy from elite
athletes to human rights and implement systematic measures to protect the rights of student
athletes. Despite some positive changes and improvements in the field, there still exists a
room for more improvement. Recognizing the need for a regulatory guideline for human
rights policies in sports to assist the government, local education authorities, and sports
communities to strengthen, promote, and sustain human rights, the Commission
established in December 2010 the ‘Guideline on Human Rights in Sports’ encompassing
prevention of human rights violations in sports such as violence, sexual assault, and right
to education, detailed application of policies to remedy violations, and facilitation of
self-motivated pursuit of human rights. The Guideline was then submitted to the Ministry
of Education and Science Technology, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, 16
education authorities of cities and provinces, and the Korean Olympic Committee in June
2012. To ensure application of the Guideline in the field, the Commission sought
understanding and cooperation by relevant policy makers by hosting briefing sessions
around the country at local office of education.
C. Survey of Public Awareness on Human Rights
The status survey of public awareness of human rights was conducted to better
understand the landscape of human rights awareness of the public, experts, and others, and
serve as a basis for setting policy directions and identifying project agenda to further
improve human rights conditions.
The survey of the public showed that there was an increase in basic understanding,
interest, and awareness of human rights. Right to privacy and freedom of assembly and
association were identified to suffer the greatest violation and the public strongly
demanded protection of social rights. A wide consensus was enlisted on the necessity of
human rights education, while the public had high expectations but low awareness of the
Chapter 1. Improvement of Laws, Regulations, Policies and Practices
57