The Dark Side of Jeonnam's Rural Areas... Where Are the Rights of Migrant Workers?

A Forum to Be Held Following Harassment-Related Death
Gwangju Human Rights Office and Provincial Council Seek Institutional Improvements

As incidents such as the death of a migrant worker due to harassment at a farm in the Jeonnam region have raised human rights concerns in rural areas, discussions on improving systems to protect the human rights of migrant workers in Jeonnam are set to take place.

The Gwangju Human Rights Office of the National Human Rights Commission announced on the 15th that it will hold a 'Policy and System Improvement Forum for Migrant Workers in Jeonnam' together with local civic groups and provincial council members at the Jeollanam-do Provincial Council on the 16th.

This forum is co-hosted by the Gwangju-Jeonnam Migrant Workers' Human Rights Network, the Gwangju-Jeonnam Labor Safety and Health Guardians (preparatory committee), and Jeonnam Provincial Council members Kim Mikyung, Shin Seungcheol, Joo Jongseop, and Choi Misook. The organizers stated, "As cases of human rights violations against migrant workers continue to occur in the agricultural, fisheries, and livestock sectors in Jeonnam, this event will serve as an opportunity to examine institutional blind spots and seek alternatives."

The forum will begin with two keynote presentations. Moon Giljoo, Director of the Jeonnam Labor Rights Center, will present 'Suggestions for Improving Human Rights Policies for Migrants in Jeonnam', and Lee Boram, Head of the Migrant Human Rights Team at the National Human Rights Commission, will present 'Migrant Workers' Human Rights as Seen Through Human Rights Commission Decisions.' Following the presentations, Yoon Youngdae, Executive Director of the Gwangju-Jeonnam Migrant Workers' Human Rights Network, Udaya Rai, President of the Migrant Workers' Union, Lee Jonggwan, Head of the Foreign Support Team at the Jeonnam Provincial Immigration Policy Division, and Joo Jongseop, Jeonnam Provincial Council member, will participate as panelists to discuss directions for policy improvement.

An official from the Gwangju Human Rights Office of the National Human Rights Commission stated, "We hope this forum will raise social awareness about the human rights situation of migrant workers and lead to substantive discussions on institutional improvements." The event is open to everyone without prior registration.