2015.12.14 09:39 article
At a recent training hosted by the Korean Bar Association, Kim Ye-won, team leader and attorney at the Seoul Disability Human Rights Center, highlighted the everyday ways people with disabilities face hidden discrimination. She cited concrete examples—students denied admission because there are no special classes, buildings accessible only by stairs, and refusals to provide reasonable accommodations—and stressed that such barriers are widespread despite existing laws.
Kim reviewed the Disability Discrimination Prevention and Remedies Act, which forbids discrimination across employment, education, goods and services, legal/administrative procedures, voting, family and welfare, health care, and protections for women and children with disabilities. In practice, however, discrimination persists through cost-cutting hiring practices, sexual harassment, lack of accessibility, and various abuses in residential facilities (assault, sexual violence, embezzlement, neglect, and violations of autonomy). She recommended remedies including reporting to the Seoul Disability Human Rights Center (1644-0420), filing complaints with the National Human Rights Commission (1331), and pursuing civil or criminal litigation when appropriate.
For institutions and facility operators, Kim advised documenting confirmed abuses, taking disciplinary action, requesting investigations by human rights bodies or local centers, and providing prevention training to all staff. She also urged consulting relevant officials by phone or email when situations are unclear. Kim closed with a reminder that disability is exacerbated by a non-inclusive society and called for removing social discrimination that makes life harder for people with disabilities. Other speakers at the session included Park Kim Young-hee and attorney Lee Sang-min.
Original source: “장애인 불편하게 만드는 사회적 차별 방지해야” (Source: the news outlet; please refer to the original article.)
