By Lee Kyung-min
National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) Chairperson Lee Sung-ho urged the government, Friday, to fully implement the recommendations from the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.
In the report released on Oct. 9, the UN Committee made recommendations on various human rights issues including discrimination against minorities. The government has 18 months to submit its observations and information on the implementation of the recommendations made by the Committee.
"The UN urged that Korea fully incorporate the present recommendations in the third National Action Plan for human rights, with clear implementation timelines and indications of responsibilities for the branches and tiers of the Government. NHRC will try to fully implement the recommendations," Lee said. "A public hearing will be held in November to discuss specific measures to adopt the UN opinions."
The UN Committee expressed concerns about the criminalization of same-sex relationships in the Military Criminal Act in Korea. It said the persons involved in same-sex relationships are exposed to discrimination.
The Committee said reports of discriminatory attitudes and acts, against lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transgender persons in many fields of public life were worrisome. The Committee recommended that the government take effective measures to eliminate discrimination against sexual minorities.
It also called for prompt adoption of comprehensive anti-discrimination legislation, noting that the Constitution prohibits discrimination only on the grounds of sex, religion and social status.
The Committee further said that the government has not taken sufficiently proactive and effective steps to build consensus around the prohibited grounds of discrimination.
It is urgent for the country to adopt comprehensive anti-discrimination legislation and recommend that awareness be raised among the public and the legislators alike about the harmful effects of discrimination on the protection of human dignity and the equal enjoyment of human rights, the Committee added.
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