ID :
29425
Mon, 11/10/2008 - 17:29
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/29425
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S. Korean PM pledges to support migrant workers, foreign brides
SEOUL, Nov. 10 (Yonhap) -- Prime Minister Han Seung-soo on Monday pledged government efforts to support foreign workers and multi-ethnic families in South Korea, a major hub for migrant labor and international marriage in Asia.
"The Republic of Korea will make greater efforts to protect and respect human
rights and the values of a multi-cultural society," Han said in an opening speech
for the International Conference on Human Rights of Migrants and Multi-cultural
Society. The conference is a three-day forum attended by human rights officials
from across Asia.
Han noted several anti-discrimination laws established as the country faced a
rapidly growing number of industrial migrant workers and foreign brides beginning
in the 1990s. Korea enacted legislature last year to ensure that foreigners
receive the same legal rights as locals, followed by a multi-ethnic family
support law to help foreign brides learn the Korean language and ensure mandatory
education for children of illegal residents.
About 1.2 million foreigners reside here, many from Southeast Asia, who fill in
the labor vacuum in low-paying, labor-intensive industrial complexes. An exodus
of young women from Korea's rural areas has also forced local farmers to go in
search of brides from Southeast Asia. The number of children from such
multi-ethnic families has reached 60,000.
Navanethem Pillay, U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, noted that migration
is "not always a matter of choice," and called for greater efforts in Asia to
respect migrants' rights. States, noted Pillay, tend to regard migrant workers
and refugees as "a threat to their sovereignty and security." Such exclusion has
intensified since the beginning of the global war on terror, he said.
"Combating the alarmingly sharp rise in levels of discrimination and xenophobia
against migrants is fundamental to ensuring social cohesion, harmony and
security," Pillay said in a video message for the conference.
During the forum, about 30 senior officials from human rights commissions from
six Asian countries -- Indonesia, Malaysia, Mongolia, Nepal, the Philippines and
Thailand -- will share their views on migrants' issues. The countries are the
main source of migrant workers and foreign brides in Korea.
The participants are scheduled to visit the Ansan Immigrant Center, a major
migrant workers' community south of Seoul, and adopt a Seoul declaration to build
a cooperation system among their human rights commissions at the end of the
forum. The meeting also marks the 60th anniversary of the U.N. Universal
Declaration of Human Rights.
hkim@yna.co.kr
(END)
"The Republic of Korea will make greater efforts to protect and respect human
rights and the values of a multi-cultural society," Han said in an opening speech
for the International Conference on Human Rights of Migrants and Multi-cultural
Society. The conference is a three-day forum attended by human rights officials
from across Asia.
Han noted several anti-discrimination laws established as the country faced a
rapidly growing number of industrial migrant workers and foreign brides beginning
in the 1990s. Korea enacted legislature last year to ensure that foreigners
receive the same legal rights as locals, followed by a multi-ethnic family
support law to help foreign brides learn the Korean language and ensure mandatory
education for children of illegal residents.
About 1.2 million foreigners reside here, many from Southeast Asia, who fill in
the labor vacuum in low-paying, labor-intensive industrial complexes. An exodus
of young women from Korea's rural areas has also forced local farmers to go in
search of brides from Southeast Asia. The number of children from such
multi-ethnic families has reached 60,000.
Navanethem Pillay, U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, noted that migration
is "not always a matter of choice," and called for greater efforts in Asia to
respect migrants' rights. States, noted Pillay, tend to regard migrant workers
and refugees as "a threat to their sovereignty and security." Such exclusion has
intensified since the beginning of the global war on terror, he said.
"Combating the alarmingly sharp rise in levels of discrimination and xenophobia
against migrants is fundamental to ensuring social cohesion, harmony and
security," Pillay said in a video message for the conference.
During the forum, about 30 senior officials from human rights commissions from
six Asian countries -- Indonesia, Malaysia, Mongolia, Nepal, the Philippines and
Thailand -- will share their views on migrants' issues. The countries are the
main source of migrant workers and foreign brides in Korea.
The participants are scheduled to visit the Ansan Immigrant Center, a major
migrant workers' community south of Seoul, and adopt a Seoul declaration to build
a cooperation system among their human rights commissions at the end of the
forum. The meeting also marks the 60th anniversary of the U.N. Universal
Declaration of Human Rights.
hkim@yna.co.kr
(END)
