Human Rights Commission "Recommendation to Improve Human Rights Protection System in Sports Sector Accepted by Relevant Agencies"

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-ju] The National Human Rights Commission announced on the 29th that all related agencies, including the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, have accepted the recommendations to improve the human rights protection system in the sports sector.

In 2019, the Human Rights Commission conducted an ex officio investigation into the overall protection system against violence and sexual violence suffered by athletes in the sports sector, and in July last year, it recommended measures to improve the human rights protection system in sports to the President, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Korean Sports Council, and the Korean Paralympic Committee.

At that time, the Commission recommended the President to transform the violent environment and structure in the sports sector, and recommended related agencies to legislate obligations for coach management and athlete protection, as well as mandatory protective measures for victims, among other specific institutional improvements.

In response, the recommended agencies replied with implementation plans stating that they are either implementing or reviewing institutional improvement measures in line with the Commission’s recommendations. The President expressed a commitment to thoroughly review the sports sector’s performance-oriented and elite sports-centered athlete development system to shift the perception toward ‘sports for all,’ and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Ministry of Education announced that they are revising relevant laws such as the National Sports Promotion Act and the School Sports Promotion Act and are promoting subsequent follow-up measures accordingly.

Additionally, the Korean Sports Council and the Korean Paralympic Committee also submitted implementation plans to appropriately handle cases of violence and sexual violence and to strengthen the management of sports personnel qualifications based on disciplinary information. Furthermore, the 'Sports Basic Act,' enacted in August this year, explicitly states the ‘right to sport’ as the right of not only professional athletes but all citizens to participate in and enjoy sports.

The Human Rights Commission stated, "We will continue to monitor how the human rights protection system in the sports sector is being concretely practiced on the ground, while also continuing efforts to promote awareness of sports human rights among athletes and the general public through publicity and the distribution of related content."

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