Annual Report 2014
the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, Korea Health & Medical Workers’ Union,
the Korean Federation of Service Workers’ Unions and the Union Network International.
Its activities for protecting the human rights of female emotional workers also include
monitoring relevant legislative trends and collecting experts’ opinions.
F. Publishing A Handbook on the Prevention of Sexual Harassment
During Medical Treatment
According to a survey on the standards to prevent sexual harassment during medical
service of 2013, 11.8% of respondents said they had the experience of feeling sexually
uncomfortable or sexual humiliation during medical treatment in health care facilities.
While the number of complaints about sexual humiliation during medical treatment
has been on the rise, medical workers insist most of the cases are due to patients’
misunderstanding conversations necessary in medical examination as sexual
harassment, revealing a gap in recognizing sexual harassment.
Against this backdrop, the Commission, with the aim of closing the gap and
preventing sexual harassment during medical service, published A Handbook on the
Prevention of Sexual Harassment during Medical Treatment which contains the
definition and benchmarks of sexual harassment during medical service, the
introduction of agencies and procedures providing remedies for victims, and frequently
occurring cases with precautionary tips.
It also made a great effort to create a human rights-friendly environment in medical
facilities by distributing the handbook to medical institutions, health workers’
organizations, community health centers, and women’s organizations across the
country and encouraging the voluntary effort of medical staff to further prevent sexual
harassment during medical services.
60 ▪▪▪ Part
II. Major Activities of the Commission