Part 3. Stronger protection of immigrant children’s human rights
As for migrant children’s human rights situation, discussions on social rights such
as education, medical service, welfare, etc., are underway. Recently, human rights
concerning the children of undocumented migrants and the immigrant children are
discussed as a core issue. Children of internationally married couples -- one of whom
is a Korean -- are guaranteed all rights as Korean nationals under Article 2 (1) of the
Nationality Act. Note, however, that undocumented immigrant children are not protected
based on the fundamental human rights (such as the right to live with parents, right
to medical service, education, or social security) which are stated in the Convention
on the Rights of the Child. Children of migrant worker parents display a high level
of zeal about their education, but the real situation is a far cry from their expectation.
NHRCK made a recommendation for the improvement of policy to guarantee
migrant children’s right to middle school education (12/3/2009) and recommendation
of an improvement plan to guarantee the right to education of migrant children
(2/16/2011). The contents of the latter consist of the following: greater access to public
education; prevention of dropping out from public education, discrimination, and
human rights infringement; and fostering of a stable education environment, etc.
Based on the results of a status survey among immigrant children, we could see
that the children who failed to adapt early had difficulty following the school
curriculum, but their level of academic achievement was raised through adaptation
training programs provided by local multicultural centers and religious organizations.
The case indicated the importance of initial adaptation programs for immigrant
Part 3. Stronger protection of immigrant children’s human rights
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