A. Introduction 1. The National Human Rights Commission of Korea (NHRCK) submits this statement to the Committee on the Rights of the Child, before the Consolidated 3rd and 4th Periodic Report on implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (hereinafter referred to as "CRC") by the Korean Government is deliberated. The NHRCK, as an independent national human rights institution, having monitored the national implementation of the CRC in this country, intends to provide information which the Committee on the Rights of the Child may refer to in deliberating the Periodic Report. 2. This Statement, in reviewing the Periodic Report, has consulted international human rights treaties, including the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights as well as the recommendations and general comments of relevant treaty organizations. This Statement, by reference to the General Guidelines regarding the Form and Content of Periodic Reports (CRC/C58/Rev.2), presents pending issues related to children's rights under the eight theme clusters and the Protocols, and describes the current situation in implementation and recommendations to the Korean Government. B. Implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child I. General Measures of Implementation of CRC (Articles 4, 42 and 44 (6)) 1. Reservations (CRC/C/KOR/3-4, para.14~23; CRC/C/KOR/Q/3-4, para. 34, 40~41 and 42-1~42-3)1 3. The Government withdrew the reservation to Article 9, paragraph 3 of the CRC (on the right of the child to maintain personal relations and direct contact with both parents) in October 2008. It is also welcomed that the Government considers revising the Civil Code to introduce an adoption permit system and plans to review for ratification of the Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption. Given that the 'Special Act concerning Promotion of Adoption and its Procedures' was revised to include the provision on the adoption permit system in June 2011, the Government may withdraw its reservation to Article 21 (a). However, the reservation to Article 40-2-(b)-(v) remains effective under the Constitution and the Military Court Act, and further efforts, including a thorough review of the relevant national legislation, are required to withdraw this reservation. 4. The process of ratifying the Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption could be undertaken, including revision of the relevant provisions in the Civil Code, that are necessary to withdraw the reservation to the adoption permit 1 The figures in parentheses refer to the relevant paragraphs of the 3 rd and 4th Periodic Reports by the Government of the Republic of Korea (CRC/C/KOR/3-4) and the List of issues concerning additional and updated information related to the consideration of the third and fourth report of the Republic of Korea (CRC/C/KOR/Q3-4). 1