A/HRC/8/40
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effect in April of this year. A number of civil society organizations working in this area made
considerable contributions to the drafting of this law. In order to have a stable implementation of
the law, the Republic of Korea will continue analysing the situation in order to identify issues that
need to be improved. The Republic of Korea will also conduct an evaluation to assess progress in
this regard.
62.
With regard to the issue of refugees, the Republic of Korea indicated that it has to improve
the procedures to recognize the status of refugees. The Republic of Korea has to invite the NGOs to
participate in this regard. The Republic of Korea works in close cooperation with UNHCR. As
regards recognized refugees, the Republic of Korea provides opportunities for work. The Republic
of Korea will try to amend the law so that applicants for refugee status can also have the right to
work when they meet certain requirements.
63.
In its concluding remarks H.E. Mr. Kim Sung-hwan, expressed appreciation for the active
participation of delegates, as well as for the constructive comments on the national report. He noted
that some points require more explanations and that due to time constraints, the Republic of Korea
will try to give more answers in written form during the plenary session of the Human Rights
Council in June. The Republic of Korea will review the observations and recommendations that
Member States have made and remain open to other recommendations, post-UPR dialogue and
from other United Nations human rights mechanisms. In the post-review process, the results will be
fully shared and discussed with all stakeholders. The Republic of Korea takes serious note of some
concerns expressed regarding the human rights of migrant workers and will engage in domestic
discussion on that matter. For the enhancement of migrant’s rights, the Republic of Korea will seek
to learn from the best practices and experiences of other receiving countries. The Republic of Korea
intends to accord more positive consideration to the accession to conventions not yet ratified.
II. CONCLUSIONS AND/OR RECOMMENDATIONS
64.
In the course of the discussion, the following recommendations were made to the
Republic of Korea:
1.
To work on the implementation and dissemination of observations of treaty
bodies (Brazil);
2.
To ratify the Convention of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities without
reservations (Brazil);
3.
To strengthen efforts to uphold the Act on the Foreign Workers Employment in
order to ensure the effective protection of the rights of foreign workers in the
country (Indonesia);
4.
To take concrete measures with a view to abolishing the “Security Law”
(Democratic Peoples’ Republic of Korea);
5.
While expressing concern at the Security Surveillance Law, which restricts
freedoms of former political prisoners and of prisoners of conscience to adopt
measures to address the situation (Democratic Peoples’ Republic of Korea);
6.
To adopt relevant measures for legislative and criminal justice improvements in
relation to concerns expressed by the Committee against Torture in relation to
allegations of torture in detention facilities and improper definition of torture in
the Criminal Code, and by the Committee on the Rights of the Child in relation
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