Key Activities
Section 5. Activities to Promote and Improve Human
Rights in Sports
A. Overview
1) Background
Violence and sexual violence in sports emerged in the public realms following a 2007 policy
recommendation by the Commission to safeguard and promote the rights of student athletes, and
the subsequent TV program “A Human Rights Report on Sports and Sexual Violence” aired by the
Korea Broadcast System.
In November 2008, the Commission conducted a survey of student athletes in junior high
schools and high schools, and announced the General Measures for the Rights of Student Athletes.
The final output of all subsequent activities was the recommendation of the Guidelines on Human
Rights in Sports in 2010.
The Korean Sports & Olympic Committee, which is a leading sports organization in Korea,
seemed to be taking actions, including putting in place a voluntary reporting and investigation
system, launching a team dedicated to protecting the rights of athletes, and opening a web portal to
receive reports. Nothing has changed, however.
In January 2019, an incident of serious violence and sexual violence suffered by an ice skating
athlete became known to the public. The revelation highlighted the need for a more fundamental
and comprehensive solution, and not a perfunctory change or temporary remedy. The incident
triggered the establishment and operation of the Special Investigation Team for Human Rights in
Sports by the Commission in February 2019.
2) Purpose
The purpose is to enable more accurate monitoring of violence and sexual violence in the world
of sports, find a fundamental and comprehensive solution, and take appropriate remedial actions
based on quick, proper investigations of reports received.
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