Plans to Continue Public Signature Collection and National Assembly Activities
On the 8th, 693 organizations including the Korean Women's Associations United, Korean Women's Movement United, Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, and People's Solidarity for Participatory Democracy launched a nationwide civic action to prevent the abolition of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family and to strengthen gender equality policies.
[Asia Economy Reporter Han Jinju] Civic and social organizations have come together to launch the 'Pan-Civic Society National Action' opposing the abolition of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family and urging the strengthening of gender equality policies.
On the 8th, 693 organizations including the Korean Women's Associations United, Korean Women's Minwoo Association, Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, People's Solidarity for Participatory Democracy, National Sexual Violence Counseling Center Council, and Lawyers for a Democratic Society launched the Pan-Civic Society National Action to prevent the abolition of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family and strengthen gender equality policies, holding a press conference at the Irum Center in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul.
The National Action to Prevent the Abolition of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family stated, "A dedicated ministry for gender equality policies is essential to resolve structural gender discrimination. We will block the government organization law amendment proposed by the Yoon Seok-yeol administration and the People Power Party to abolish the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family until the end," adding, "We will launch regional actions nationwide and work with all citizens who desire gender-equal democracy to achieve the strengthening of national gender equality policies through voter action."
The National Action pointed out, "The government organization reform plan, which includes the abolition of the dedicated ministry for gender equality policies with over 20 years of history, was hastily prepared and proposed without transparent and democratic procedures such as systematic discussions with related ministries and stakeholders."
The National Action stated, "If the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family loses its status as a dedicated ministry, it will lose its deliberation and resolution rights as a cabinet member, as well as legislative and executive powers as a dedicated ministry, and the government's and local governments' functions for overseeing and coordinating gender equality policies will be reduced or abolished. The laws and policies related to women's rights and gender equality, which were born from decades of women's movement achievements, will be fragmented into other ministries or departments, disconnected, and pushed to lower priority," emphasizing this point.
The National Action will conduct a public signature campaign opposing the abolition of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family and demanding the strengthening of gender equality policies. Regarding the government organization law amendment, they plan to conduct activities in the National Assembly, including meetings with party leaders and floor leaders, and relevant committees, while holding roundtable discussions and forums to devise measures to strengthen gender equality policies.
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