SOUTH KOREA – Asian NGOs demand special review on National Human Rights Commission of Korea
6 October 2009 12:00 pm

anni_logo.jpgThe Asian NGOs Network on National Human Rights
Institutions (ANNI) have sent letters to Hyun Byung-chul, Chairman of the
National Human Rights Commission of Korea (NHRCK) and the International
Coordinating Committee of National Human Rights Institutions (ICC) following
certain statements made by Hyun before the National Assembly on 18 September
2009.

anni_logo.jpg(Bangkok, 7 October 2009)
The Asian NGOs Network on National Human Rights
Institutions (ANNI) have sent letters to Hyun Byung-chul, Chairman of the
National Human Rights Commission of Korea (NHRCK) and the International
Coordinating Committee of National Human Rights Institutions (ICC) following
certain statements made by Hyun before the National Assembly on 18 September
2009.

According to ANNI, these statements clearly run counter to NHRCK's
previous stand when it asserted its independence in the face of threats from
the government. The statements were made at a hearing
at the National Assembly on 18 September, where Hyun testified
in two ongoing issues within the NHRCK.

Firstly,
Hyun agreed with lawmaker Jang Jae-won last April when asked about his view of
the government reducing the Commission's staff by 21.2 percent, saying they had
legitimate reasons for downsizing NHRCK.

Secondly,
when asked by lawmaker Shin JI-Ho on his definition of NHRCK's status as to whether
it should be an independent commission, separate from the executive,
legislative, and judicial branches of the government, or whether it should
remain autonomous, yet belong under the executive branch of government. Hyun
responded that "legally the latter view is the case, but I have yet to think
more about it".

In view of the said statements, ANNI has strongly urged Hyun to maintain
the integrity and the hard-won independence of the NHRCK as well as to
demonstrate its compliance with the Paris Principles.

ANNI also urged the ICC to immediately send a fact-finding mission
to Seoul to monitor the developments within the NHRCK and undertake a special
review to ascertain whether it still deserves to be a status A institution
under the ICC.

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Also related:
6 October 2009, ANNI's letter to NHRCK Chairperson
7 October 2009, ANNi's letter to ICC Chairperson