studied the actual human rights conditions of coastal fishing migrant workers and
recommended improving the human rights of migrant workers, and studied a social
welfare support system for immigrants into Korea and recommended institutional
improvements to better protect the human rights of those who are in less fortunate
circumstances, such as people residing for humanitarian reasons and marriage migrant
women. Also, the Commission facilitated projects which sought to implement “the
International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination”
inside Korea and to strengthen exchange and cooperation amongst local communities so
as to form a consensus about the human rights of migrants. Through the adoption of this
approach, the Commission extensively shared the current issues of multicultural society at
home and abroad and contributed to improving the human rights for migrants.
Further, the enactment of the Refugee Act is scheduled for July 2013; hence, it is to be
expected that more attention will be paid after the enactment to the human rights of
displaced people, such as making the process of refugee status application and
determination fair and transparent, and the treatment given to refugee status applicants.
Pertaining to the human rights of the elderly, the Guardian of Human Rights for the
Elderly laid the groundwork for improving the human rights of the elderly by, for
example, exploring age discrimination. For the purpose of proposing comprehensive
policies, a Policy Planning Group for the Human Rights of the Elderly was put into effect,
and the group presented various policies and rationales. Also, the NHRCK made efforts to
change the viewpoint adopted when approaching issues related to the elderly from
focusing on the personal and economical aspects to focusing instead on the social and
human rights aspects. The Commission aims to continuously put priority on discussions
about, for example, making institutional improvements that will protect and improve
human rights for the elderly and issues that should be resolved before we become a
super-aged society.
For the sake of improving the human rights of children and youth, the NHRCK took
Introduction
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