6. As of late 2007, the Korean government is a State Party to ICESCR, ICCPR, ICERD, CEDAW, CAT and CRC, under which the government is implementing quite well the obligation of submitting reports. The government listens to the NHRCK while drafting its reports. Improvements in Major Human Rights Issues 7. Over the previous four years, the overall human rights situation has improved greatly, in particular, with regard to civil and political rights. Discrimination is now recognized as an important human rights issue in society. While socially marginalized people and minority groups attract more attention, a widening socio-economic gap between the rich and the poor has diminished the enjoyment of social, economic, cultural, and other rights. 8. Torture against persons in detention by investigative agencies and other national bodies has remarkably reduced over the past four years. After 2003, the Social Protection Law that was accused of sentencing double-punishment was abolished, the Criminal Procedure Law was improved including a stronger system of habeas corpus, and alternative military service programs for conscientious objectors started to be considered on a long term basis. On the other hand, there is room for improvements: the National Security Law was not abolished in spite of the UN human rights bodies’ recommendations; the death penalty was not abolished even though it has not been executed for more than 10 years. Also, assemblies related to political issues were banned in advance for fear of traffic disruption and probable violence, which requires change as well. 9. Instances of torture in detention facilities including prisons are reported to be decreased greatly; however human rights in protective facilities for the mentally-ill, the disabled, the older and children need to be urgently improved. Human rights violations, in particular, in unregistered facilities are reported to be serious; therefore, effective supervisory measures are needed. Additionally, policies for smaller and more personal facilities and the inclusions of said people in their communities are needed. 10. With the development of information technology, there is a growing risk of privacy invasion, from CCTV surveillance and eavesdropping to abuse of personal database and bio-recognition technology. Another problem is digital divide - the inevitable emergence of a group of people who do not have access to information technology and therefore cannot enjoy the benefits from it. In this regard, efforts should be made to protect the rights to privacy from excessive collection and misuse of personal data and to guarantee the accessibility to information for all individuals. 11. Similarly, development of biotechnology presents such serious challenges as ethical issues raised by the new technology and rights of the people who are objects to the experiments, to name a few.