Introduction Basic Direction for Activities in 2010 The National Human Rights Commission (hereafter "the Commission") was established on November 25, 2001 as an independent national institution 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." In accordance with the goals and direction of the Three-Year Action Plan for Promoting Human Rights established in 2009, the Commission maintained the five strategic objectives and special projects in implementing its activities for the year 2010, in order to ensure the continuity of projects from the previous year. Based on this, the Commission formulated a strategy to implement the five strategic objectives, which are i) safeguarding civil and political rights; ii) advancing the rights of the child and the elderly; iii) promoting the economic, social and cultural rights of economically vulnerable groups; iv) improving the rights of migrants in a multi-cultural society; and v) strengthening the anti-discrimination policies and remedies that pertain to socially vulnerable groups. It also established action plans on a special project to improve North Korean human rights. Moreover the Commission strategically analyzed a range of factors, including increase in the number of complaints, demands for human rights educations and the manifestation of diverse human rights issues; and changes in the internal and external environments surrounding the Commission, which were incorporated into the 2010 work plans. In addition, it focused on "selection and concentration" of its activities following the downsizing of the organization in 2009. In accordance with the goals and direction of "the Introduction 13