Introduction National Human Rights Commission of Korea Annual Report 2013 Chapter 1. Overview The National Human Rights Commission of the Republic of Korea (hereinafter to be referred to as "the NHRCK" or "Commission") is an independent national institution which was established in November 2001. The mission of the NHRCK is to protect and further promote the inviolable human rights of all human beings, thereby realizing the dignity and value of people and contributing to establishing the fundamental democratic order. The Paris Principles, a set of international standards which frame and guide the work of National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs), stipulates that "A national institution shall be given as broad a mandate as possible, which shall be clearly set forth in a constitutional or legislative text, specifying its composition and its sphere of competence to guarantee its independence from the Government." The NHRCK, as a comprehensive National Human Right Institution created under these principles, fulfils the following responsibilities: the improvement of legislation, institution, policy, and practices of human rights; investigations and remedies of human rights violations and discriminatory acts; implementation of international human rights treaties; and cooperation with domestic and foreign human rights protection groups and organizations. Introduction ▪▪▪ 3