ANNUAL REPORT 2015 2. Projects to Promote Human Rights A. ‌Project to develop and improve human rights institutions in local governments There is a growing interest in developing human rights institutions at the local community level. Since the Commission had issued a recommendation to local governments to enact a human rights ordinance in April, 2012, 73 local governments (including 16 regional and 58 local) showed some progress: they set up their own human rights ordinance and began to operate a local-based human rights office or council to engage in different projects (including human rights education for citizens, publication and distribution of leaflets to promote human rights, and idea contests on human rights). Excluding Daegu, Gyeongggido, Gyeongsangbukdo, Gyeongsangnamdo, Jeju, 11 out of the 16 regional governments and 17 out of the 58 local governments launched a local human rightsbased council, which conducts a range of different projects, including human rights education for public servants, training courses for human rights instructors, talk-concerts on human rights, private-public joint workshops, selection of core human rights indicators, preparation of plans to ensure and promote human rights, and publication of the Declaration of Human Rights. However, their continued effort on policies and support for those policies depend on the intentions of the head of the local government, a non-permanent, elected official. In addition, personnel in charge of the local-based human rights activity continues to suffer from diverse difficulties. As part of its effort to look for measures to implement human rights institutions tailored to the local situation, the Commission has (1) hosted a meeting with experts, (2) held a workshop in five regions to raise awareness on local-based human rights institutions, (3) shared exemplary cases, (4) and set the direction of human rights institutions in Gangwondo and its goals. B. 7th Senior Human Rights Supporters and on-site monitoring By launching the 7th Senior Human Rights Supporters, the Commission conducted a survey on the project to support the social activities of seniors led by the government. The respondents were general seniors, beneficiaries of the project, and the personnel in the project agencies. The results found that many seniors were already aware of the project and with much interest since additional household income helps. Public service was the most popular, followed by job seeking and talent donation. As for seniors who participated in the project, they worked less than six to nine months, 52 | National Human Rights Commission of Korea