Foreword by the Chairperson “ Emerging from the shadows of hatred and discrimination against vulnerable groups, and of polarization, Striving towards a society where everyone is equally respected” The fight for human rights is an endless process to achieve respect for human dignity and values. The process deals with newly emerging challenges, but it also involves overcoming old systems and perceptions. Human rights are an issue that affects everyone, but it can be particularly pressing and desperate for disadvantaged and vulnerable groups, as well as minorities. As a national human rights institution, the National Human Rights Commission of Korea was faced with some tough challenges in 2019, and this was a year where our human rights response stood out more than ever. In January, news of violence and sexual violence against sports athletes stirred a public outrage. Through a survey ten years ago, the Commission had revealed that the unique structural conditions embedded in competitive sports were conducive to violence and sexual violence in sports. Despite its recommendation of the Guidelines for Human Rights in Sports, the situation has not changed much since. This time around, the Commission established the Special Investigation Team for Human Rights in Sports and conducted surveys of training camps and of all athletes in elementary schools, junior high schools, high schools, and colleges. Extensive surveys to understand and resolve structural problems in sports helped lay a milestone in furthering human rights in this domain. The rapid spread of hate speech and discrimination against women, children, older persons, persons with disabilities, foreigners, and sexual minorities raised fundamental questions about the existence of our communities. The Commission launched the Task Force on Combating Hatred and Discrimination, leading a public debate and a government-wide approach to the issue. In an effort to foster a society where everyone lives with dignity, it published the Hate Speech Report on the concept

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