NHRCK: Installing Gender-Neutral Disabled Restrooms in Public Facilities Is Discrimination

[Asia Economy Reporter Seongpil Cho] The National Human Rights Commission has ruled that installing gender-neutral restrooms for the disabled in public facilities constitutes discriminatory behavior.

On the 8th, the Human Rights Commission announced that it recommended the head of A Administrative Welfare Center to separate restrooms for the disabled by gender and improve facilities to ensure accessibility for wheelchairs and others. It also advised the head of the relevant district office to secure a budget for improving convenience facilities for the disabled at the administrative welfare center and to establish a construction plan. The commission stated, "Operating restrooms for the disabled as unisex facilities is an act of failing to provide reasonable convenience for disabled individuals using the facilities."

Previously, the commission received a complaint from a disabled person claiming that A Administrative Welfare Center was using the women's restroom as a shared disabled restroom. The complainant argued, "There are stairs in front of the restroom door, making it inaccessible for wheelchairs, and the lack of gender separation in the disabled restroom constitutes discrimination against disabled people." In response, A Administrative Welfare Center explained, "Due to the building's structural issues since its completion in 1991, it is difficult to secure space for installing ramps that meet accessibility standards for the disabled," adding, "If a budget for new construction or expansion is secured, it will be reflected in the public restroom expansion project."

The Human Rights Commission recommended improvements based on the social norm that men and women do not share restrooms. The judgment was also based on the anticipation that users might feel embarrassed if men and women share restrooms, and the absence of any unavoidable reason to install only unisex restrooms for the disabled.