National Human Rights Commission of Korea Annual Report 2020 The Commission worked to combat social prejudice against persons with mental disabilities by developing draft human rights reporting standards in cooperation with mental disability human rights groups and organizations. To improve the overall human rights conditions for persons with mental disabilities, it organized a council of specialist groups, periodically collected opinions on key issues, and prepared policy recommendations. Through continued consultations, it worked to reflect human rights-friendly content in the short- and long-term plans of the Ministry of Health and Welfare and other policy-making organizations. The Commission made efforts to shape public discussion and enhance understanding and perception of gender equality issues and human rights of persons with disabilities, including opinion regarding discretionary disclosure by the police of mental illness information of a person involved in a case, a chairperson statement regarding emergency relief for a closed hospital ward, a chairperson statement to guarantee the political rights of persons with disabilities during the 21st general election, a survey on challenging behaviors of individuals with developmental disabilities, a survey to promote human rights in psychiatric rehabilitation centers, a study on women’s rights, a gender equality forum, and sexual harassment casebook for distribution. As a result of three years of efforts by the Commission to foster public debate about hate speech, there is increased awareness of the seriousness of hate speech and need for actions. The commission developed best practices of self-regulatory actions by facilitating counter-hate speech declarations by the education and media communities, and helped spread the effort into online, sports, and public domains. Most important is for the government to affirm intolerance principle, and develop and enforce a detailed plan to combat hate speech. However, the government’s actions have so far been insufficient, with no specific plans yet developed despite discussions at the ministerial meeting for social affairs. The Commission will continuously work with the state and local governments so that they can take the initiative in preventing and eradicating hate speech. In view of laying the legal basis for an equal society, the Commission expressed opinion to the National Assembly with an equality law drafted based on various views collected, and continuously fostered a public debate to support legislation by lawmakers. However, the proposed law is yet to be tabled, and the Commission will continue its efforts towards legislation of an equality law. 72