Part 3 | Key Activities
regard. In particular, in 2016, the Inter-Parliamentary Union and the OHCHR jointly published
the Human Rights Handbook for Parliamentarians to emphasize the role of parliaments and
their members in promoting and protecting human rights. Furthermore, in 2020, the InterParliamentary Union highlighted the important role of parliaments in promoting and protecting
human rights through the Principles on Parliaments and Human Rights. However, according
to a survey on the state of human rights education in the National Assembly conducted by
the Commission in 2021, the completion rates of mandatory human rights education, such as
the four education programs on violence prevention (sexual harassment, prostitution, sexual
violence, and domestic violence), for members of the National Assembly and their staff are
significantly low. Specifically, no statistics have been disclosed on the completion rate of such
education for members of the National Assembly and others.
Furthermore, although the National Assembly Training Institute offers various educational
programs such as the Legislator Participation Course, Staff Education Course, and Legislative
Academy, there is currently no specific human rights education program designed for members
of the National Assembly or their staff. Moreover, elected politicians including legislators
affiliated with political parties are regulated by party constitutions and rules. However,
significant discrepancies were found among the party constitutions and rules regarding the
the Commission recommended that the Speaker and the Secretary-General of the National
Assembly, and the representatives of each political party make institutional improvements to
enhance human rights education in the National Assembly in order to better fulfill its legislative
role to protect and promote the fundamental rights of the people.
G. Opinion Expressed on Climate Crisis and Human Rights
On November 28, the Commission expressed its views on the climate crisis and human
rights to the government (the President). The opinion reflected both domestic and international
demands to actively respond to climate change, which has emerged as the most significant
threat to human rights, and is significant in that it was the Commission’s first official opinion on
climate crisis and human rights issues.
The Commission emphasized that the climate crisis has direct and indirect wide-ranging
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mandatory implementation and enforcement of human rights education. In light of this,