Choi Jong-moon, Deputy Foreign Minister: "Dual Nature of Digital New Technologies... Importance of Human Rights-Based Approach"

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo In-ho] Choi Jong-moon, the 2nd Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, participated as a panelist in the high-level discussion on 'New Technologies and Human Rights' held via video conference at the United Nations Human Rights Council on the 15th, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on the 16th.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

This discussion is a side event of the 47th Human Rights Council starting on the 21st. It was co-hosted by Korea, Austria, and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), and focused on applying human rights norms to new technologies.

Vice Minister Choi stated, "The discussion is very timely amid the COVID-19 situation," and added, "Digital new technologies have a dual nature as both opportunities and challenges in protecting and promoting human rights."

He introduced that Korea utilizes digital new technologies for tracking COVID-19 confirmed cases' movements, utilizing leftover vaccines, and vaccine certification.

He emphasized the importance of a human rights-based approach, saying, "Through new technologies, it is possible to guarantee the right to health, freedom of expression, and access to information even during the COVID-19 situation, but on the other hand, side effects such as privacy invasion concerns and digital divide have occurred."

Korea led the adoption of the 'New Technologies and Human Rights' resolution in July 2019, which instructed the UN Human Rights Council Advisory Committee to submit a report on the impact of new technologies on the protection and promotion of human rights to the 47th Human Rights Council, and plans to propose a follow-up resolution at the 47th Council.

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