Controversy is rising because this content is included in the Korean government’s opinion (original text) on past history issues submitted to the 54th UN Human Rights Council currently being held in Geneva, Switzerland. The Korean NGO delegation to the UN Human Rights Council, including the 4/9 Unification Peace Foundation, the Institute for Korean Studies, and the Catholic Human Rights Commission, issued a press release on the 13th, publicizing the Korean government’s opinion and refuting it. Previously, Fabian Salvioli, UN Special Rapporteur on Truth, Justice, Reparations, and Prevention of Recurrence, made an official visit to Korea in June last year to investigate past history issues, and listened to the Korean government’s opinions on the comfort women issue and included them in the report.
The NGO delegation said, “The Japanese government has not made an official apology to the victims, is not only denying that it committed crimes against humanity, but is also denying the victims the right to seek compensation,” adding, “The government intends to represent the Japanese government . ” “With his response, the dignity of ‘comfort women’ and ‘forced mobilization’ victims has once again been trampled upon . ”
According to the report, the Korean government said the above, referring to Japan’s ‘Kono Statement’ in 1993. Currently, the Japanese government has apologized for the comfort women issue through the Kono Statement and the 2015 agreement, but has not acknowledged legal responsibility, saying, “It is a state crime, so compensation should be made from the government budget.” Regarding the issue of forced mobilization, they continue to refuse to implement South Korea’s Supreme Court ruling requiring compensation for inhumane forced mobilization, saying that the 1965 Korea-Japan Agreement resolved the issue of claims between the two countries.
In addition, the government said in the report, “For cases where it is difficult to find the truth and compensate for the lack of laws for relief (Seosan Pioneer Corps, Brotherhood Welfare Center, Seongam Academy, Korean War civilian massacre, etc.), the Past History Committee for Truth and Reconciliation (Truth and Reconciliation) He responded, “It will be resolved through an investigation by the Reconciliation Committee.”
The NGO delegation said, “The government expressed its position to Special Adviser Fabian Salvioli that it will ‘continue its efforts,’ but it cut the budget for the National Violence Trauma Healing Center and the budget for responding to past incidents related to ‘comfort women’ and ‘forced mobilization,’ and issued an official apology, etc. Most of the recommendations made by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission to government agencies are not being implemented. “The government did not report any reversal of policies related to past history as mentioned above.” He also criticized the content of the opinion on the case of the kidnapped fishermen returned to North Korea as an “outrageous answer,” which only placed responsibility on North Korea and did not mention at all the responsibility of the토토사이트 South Korean government for illegal arrest, detention, torture, manipulation of espionage, surveillance, and application of the guilt-by-association system.
On the 13th and 14th, the NGO delegation pointed out the inappropriateness of the government’s opinion through a UN side event and civil society oral remarks at the 54th UN Human Rights Council, and requested that the Korean government fulfill its obligations in accordance with international human rights standards regarding past history issues. I plan to urge you.
The UN Special Rapporteur on truth, justice, reparations, and prevention of recurrence visits each country, examines the overall resolution of the country’s past history, issues a report containing the current status, and establishes specific international standards and recommendations to promote the rights of victims.