Gwangju City Experts Collaborate on Operation of 'Shelter for Disabled Victims'

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Seon-gang] Gwangju Metropolitan City announced on the 25th that it held a sector-specific expert advisory meeting to establish an operational model for a ‘Shelter for Disabled Victims’ and exchanged opinions.

Attendees at the meeting included Choi Mi-jung, member of the Gwangju City Council Environment and Welfare Committee; Choi Wan-wook, director of the Gwangju Disabled Rights Research Institute; Park Chan-dong, head of the Gwangju Metropolitan City Rights Advocacy Agency; Park Yeon-hee, professor of social welfare at Chosun Institute of Science and Technology; Lee Soon-hwa, representative of the Gwangju Women with Disabilities Solidarity; Ahn Hyo-cheol, president of the Gwangju Disabled Welfare Facilities Association; Jeong Seong-ju, director of the Gwangju Nanum Disabled Independent Living Center; and Moon Hyun, team leader of the Gwangju Metropolitan City Developmental Disabilities Support Center.

At the meeting, Professor Park Yeon-hee of Chosun Institute of Science and Technology explained the problems of existing shelter operations, such as refusal of admission, non-compliance with 24-hour operation, lack of manuals, and budget issues making it difficult to secure professional personnel.

Choi Wan-wook, director of the Gwangju Disabled Rights Issues Research Institute, proposed an ‘integrated’ model that activates rights advocacy agencies, shelters, and local networks as a support system for disabled victims.

Park Chan-dong, head of the Gwangju Metropolitan City Disabled Rights Advocacy Agency, said, “For the successful settlement of disabled victims in the local community, institutions in various fields must work together,” adding, “A specialized professional institution equipped with dedicated personnel and support budgets is needed to provide close, integrated support in areas such as housing, medical care, legal assistance, and daily support.”

He also suggested a ‘specialized support institution type’ that can encompass shelters and independent housing to enhance professionalism and effectiveness as an alternative.

Jeong Seong-ju, director of the Gwangju Nanum Disabled Independent Living Center, proposed, “When preparing shelter residential spaces, convenience facilities should be equipped considering various types of disabilities, and ‘housing services’ that enable disabled victims to settle in the local community are urgently needed.”

Lee Soon-hwa, representative of the Gwangju Women with Disabilities Solidarity, stated, “Shelter spaces should be separated into women’s shelters, men’s shelters, and office spaces, and budget considerations should be made through surveys of shelters in other sectors, including three-shift working hours and appointment of professional facility managers.”

Choi Seon-young, head of the city’s Disability Welfare Division, said, “We are well aware of the public’s expectations and concerns regarding shelters for disabled victims,” and added, “We will prepare a support system for shelters for disabled victims that is worthy of ‘Human Rights City Gwangju’ so that disabled victims can live together in our society.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.