JEAIL > Volume 2(2); 2009 > Notes & Comments
Research Paper
Published online: November 30, 2009
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.14330/jeail.2009.2.2.07

Protecting Victim Rights: The Role of the National Human Rights Commission of Korea

Andrew Wolman
Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, Korea
HUFS GSIAS, 270 Imun-dong, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul 130-791 Korea.
Corresponding Author: amw247@yahoo.com

ⓒ Copyright YIJUN Institute of International Law
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Abstract

Since its establishment in the year 2001, the National Human Rights Commission of Korea (NHRCK) has assumed the role of primary governmental entity addressing human rights issues in the country. In addition to investigating complaints of human rights violations and discrimination, the NHRCK has a policy advisory function, and engages in research, education, and publicizing of human rights issues. This article examines the role of the NHRCK, which came into being in part due to the advocacy of victim rights groups, in promoting and protecting victim rights. It addresses both the rights of crime victims and the rights of victims of human rights abuses. The article analyzes the different ways in which the NHRCK has addressed victim issues, while offering concluding observations as to how the NHRCK can more effectively promote and protect victim rights in the future.

Keywords : Korea, Victim Rights, National Human Rights Commission, Restitution, Compensation, Counseling

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