Gov’t proposes controversial human rights roadmap

Posted on : 2007-02-14 14:35 KST Modified on : 2019-10-19 20:29 KST
Draft does not include plans to abolish anti-spy law, death penalty
 demanding for abolishing of the notorious National Security Law and releasing prisoners of conscience.
demanding for abolishing of the notorious National Security Law and releasing prisoners of conscience.

The Ministry of Justice on February 13 announced it had drafted a roadmap for human rights protection, but the draft will likely raise controversy because it does not include recommendations made by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to move toward abolishing the National Security Law and capital punishment.

The National Security Law is a notorious anti-spy law that was abused by the powers that were during South Korea’s numerous dictatorships.

South Korea maintains the legality of capital punishment on the books, but it has not executed anyone in nine years, one year short of the duration established by the U.N. under which a country has basically abolished the practice.

During a public hearing in Seoul on the same day, the Ministry of Justice in a release said, "Regarding the National Security Law, both a bill calling for its abolishment and another calling for its partial amendment are pending at the National Assembly, so it is desirable to decide on the matter through national consensus after reviewing the related laws."

In connection with the law, however, such a lukewarm position of the government is expected to invite criticism because a number of ill effects of the law have already repeatedly been raised, such as the fact that it stands in violation of South Korea’s Constitution, particularly in the protection of freedom of conscience.

Lawyer Jo Yeong-seon said, "The issue of scrapping the National Security Law will be an important factor to judge whether South Korea protects human rights or not," adding that policies should move toward abolishing the law, not merely toward attempts to prevent its abuse.

In relation to scrapping the death penalty as recommended by the NHRC, the Ministry of Justice deferred a decision on the matter, saying that the ministry would review whether to abolish it or not during the first half of this year. The government will review the appropriateness of the introduction of an ‘absolute life sentence,’ and will try to take into account the outcome of an upcoming National Assembly review process for a bill demanding abolishment of the death penalty, added the ministry.

Related to North Korean human rights, the ministry said that it would step up humanitarian aid to North Korea and provide "diplomatic efforts and support for domestic and overseas nongovernmental organizations" working on the issue.

"After discussing the draft in a standing committee, we are going to again hold talks with the ministry," said an official of the NHRC. The rights commission reportedly said it could not understand why the Ministry of Justice’s draft sought to defer a decision on abolishing the National Security Law and death penalty, as well as not dealing with the issue of political activities of teachers or civil servants. In South Korea, teachers and other public employees are banned from political activity.

The commission submitted a recommendation to the government in January last year following a May 2001 recommendation by the U.N. Committee on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights calling for the South Korean government to report on its progress in establishing a roadmap on human rights policies.

Please direct questions or comments to [englishhani@hani.co.kr]

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