UN Recommends South Korean Government Withdraw Plan to Abolish Ministry of Gender Equality and Family

[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 3rd (local time), the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) recommended that the South Korean government withdraw its plan to abolish the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family (MOGEF). The committee also urged the immediate appointment of the currently vacant MOGEF minister position.

After concluding the 9th review of South Korea's national report, the committee stated in its final observations (recommendations), "We express serious concern over the proposed abolition of MOGEF under the Government Organization Act Amendment Bill No. 15525," and recommended, "The provision to abolish MOGEF should be withdrawn, the minister should be appointed immediately, and the functions of MOGEF should be maintained in any form of organizational restructuring."

It added, "The push to abolish MOGEF could be seen as a regression from the committee's previous final observations, which emphasized the importance of strengthening MOGEF's role and resources," and expressed concern over the limited participation of women's organizations in the formulation of national plans for women's development.

The committee also called for a significant expansion of MOGEF's human, technical, and financial resources and for strengthening the capabilities of its staff.

Additionally, the committee requested a follow-up report within two years on the implementation status of ▲setting a concrete timeline for the enactment of a comprehensive anti-discrimination law ▲introducing the crime of non-consensual rape ▲establishing effective relief measures for victims of the Japanese military sexual slavery.

In response, MOGEF stated, "The purpose of abolishing the ministry is to promote gender equality policies more efficiently," and expressed regret that the UN's reference to 'Amendment Bill No. 15525' was included in the recommendations despite it not being the bill the government is pursuing to abolish MOGEF, which is factually incorrect.

It further emphasized, "The authority to appoint and dismiss ministers of government ministries is the exclusive prerogative of the president, who holds personnel authority, and this is not a matter to be addressed by international organizations."

Meanwhile, the committee is a body that monitors the implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, which has been ratified by 189 countries. South Korea joined in 1984 and has since submitted national reports on policy achievements in related fields every four years for review by the UN.