17. CEDAW has largely contributed to improvements of women’s rights in the ROK. It influenced the process of revising the family law, which led to the most important achievement in the four years: the abolishment of the male-only family head system or hojuje. Still, there remain many problems; a wide salary gap between men and women, the low ratio of women in high ranking positions, violence against women, sexual harassment and stereotypes on gender roles including the conception that women should be the primary child caregivers. With that, the government should proactively implement policies to change stereotypes of women and intensify the punishment of perpetrators of violence against women. 18. There is a growing recognition on the importance of the rights of children, yet still corporal punishment against children is a particularly serious issue. Corporal punishment at home and school, bullying at school, excessive focus only on college entrance tests, and the resulting excessive amount of study have been major stumbling blocks to the rights of children. 19. Recently, rights of persons with disabilities have become a major social concern. The government introduced improved polices including self-reliance of persons with disabilities, compulsory employment and better accessibility, and established the Act on Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities in 2007. The government signed the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities but did not ratify it yet. However, given the fact that the rights of persons with disabilities have not received their due attention, the government needs to take more seriously the rights of persons with disabilities during its decision-making process regarding resource inputs and policy priorities. 20. With the increase of migrants including internationally married migrant women and migrant workers over the past four years, the government has developed new policies and revised legislations in this area. Examples are the provision of assistance for international marriage immigrants and of employment, medical and industrial accident insurances for migrant workers. However, for unregistered migrant workers their human rights are violated or the education rights of their children are not guaranteed. Discriminations that migrants are facing in their daily lives are serious and the nature of such discriminations is linked with racism. To tackle discriminations against migrants, the government should enhance social awareness, and at the same time, should revise legislation and policies for better protection of their basic rights. Also the refugee recognition procedures should be improved in line with the international refugee law. 21. As the ROK’s population percentage of elderly people is one of the fastest growing in the world, the protection of the rights of elderly people with regard to social alienation, underemployment and poverty, and medical care have emerged as new challenges.