Human rights commissions in Asia Pacific condemn military coup in Myanmar
Posted : 2021-05-11 17:09
Updated : 2021-05-12 09:45
Protesters make the three-finger salute during a demonstration against the military coup in Yangon, Myanmar, April 27. AFP-Yonhap
By Lee Hyo-jin
A coalition of human rights institutions in the Asia Pacific region, including the National Human Rights Commission of Korea (NHRCK), has condemned the ongoing military coup in Myanmar and urged the junta there to cease all forms of violence against civilians.
The Asia Pacific Forum of National Human Rights Institutions (APF), a grouping of 25 national human rights institutions in the region, released a statement, Monday, expressing deep concerns about the continuing violence and killing of civilians in the country which began when the military seized power in February.
Posted : 2021-05-05 09:15
Updated : 2021-05-05 11:22
Members of the civic group, Political Mamas, cover themselves in paint during their Pink No More campaign in front of the Government Complex Seoul in this March 14, 2019, photo. Yonhap
By Bahk Eun-ji
The nation s human rights watchdog has called for changes to the practices in which girls items are colored pink while boys toys are blue, saying these practices can make children develop gender stereotypes.
The National Human Rights Commission of Korea (NHRCK) expressed this opinion in response to a complaint filed by the civic group, Political Mamas, against eight children s products manufacturers. But it dismissed the complaint, which it viewed did not meet legal requirements.
Posted : 2021-04-22 09:14
Updated : 2021-04-22 09:14
Civic groups representing people with disabilities call for the eradication of discrimination against disabled people during a rally near the Ministry of Health and Welfare building in Sejong, Tuesday. The event was organized to mark the Day of the Disabled People in Korea which falls on April 20. Yonhap
By Lee Hyo-jin
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a severe impact on vulnerable groups in society, and exposed Korea s ill-prepared support network for the disabled population in case of national disasters and infectious disease outbreaks.
During the early stages of the pandemic, disabled people experienced limited access to face masks and COVID-19-related information due insufficient communication platforms, as well as medical services. Also, for people with severe physical disabilities, the mandatory self-isolation rule came as a challenge.
Posted on April 7, 2021.
“I’m proud to be Asian … Many of us don’t get the chance to be able to say that….” While watching a speech by Korean actor Sandra Oh, who participated in a protest against hate crimes against Asian residents on March 20, I recalled an interview last year where she expressed her feelings about the movie “Parasite.” Oh said, “I didn’t even know myself, but I was always conscious of being of color and realized that I wasn’t free. I could feel it when director Bong Joon-Ho stood on the stage of the awards ceremony. His gaze is free, but I didn’t see it that way.”