Information on the Implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in the Republic of Korea 5. Article 8. Awareness-raising 5.1 Insufficient efforts in removing negative public attitudes and prejudice against persons with disabilities 1) Current status and problems ① The Initial Report states that the government and local autonomies are providing education, distributing information leaflets and conducting public campaign advertisements to raise awareness on persons with disabilities for primary and secondary school students, public servants, workers and the general public. However, the results of the Survey on the Recognition of Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities undertaken by the Ministry of Health and Welfare in 2009 showed that 67% of the respondents (persons without disabilities) answered that the discrimination in the Korean society against persons with disabilities was considerable or was on the significant side, and 49% answered they never heard of the Anti-Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities Act. ② Pursuant to the Act on Welfare of Persons with Disabilities and the Act on Employment Promotion and Vocational Rehabilitation for Disabled Persons, the state, local autonomies and business owners have the obligation to conduct education for employees and workers to raise awareness regarding persons with disabilities, but there are no penalties when this provision is neglected. Furthermore, the Initial Report fails to present statistics on education to raise awareness for public servants and workers. ③ As a result of a lack of aware-raising education, public servants who work for the state and local autonomies and should lead efforts to eradicate social prejudice and preconceptions against persons with disabilities have such prejudices and preconceptions, which can be confirmed through complaints and counseling at the Commission. NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION OF KOREA 9