"Restricting Class Participation for Adolescents Hospitalized in Psychiatric Institutions Is a Human Rights Violation"

National Human Rights Commission of Korea building. Photo by Human Rights Commission

[Asia Economy Reporter Seongpil Cho] The National Human Rights Commission has ruled that restricting the participation of adolescents hospitalized in psychiatric medical institutions in classes as a form of punishment constitutes a human rights violation.

On the 15th, the Human Rights Commission announced that it recommended the head of the investigated institution operating Psychiatric Medical Institution A to establish a behavior modification plan tailored to the individual characteristics of the victims and to cease human rights violations. It also conveyed recommendations to the Minister of Health and Welfare and the local superintendent of education to strengthen guidance and supervision of psychiatric medical institutions to ensure the rights of adolescents to treatment, protection, and education.

Earlier, in April of last year, the Human Rights Commission received a complaint that the head of the investigated institution was infringing on the human rights of adolescents hospitalized in the affiliated psychiatric medical institution by imposing excessive behavioral rules. In August of the same year, the Commission decided to conduct an ex officio investigation, which revealed that the head of the investigated institution imposed restrictions such as ▲limiting class participation ▲restricting possession and use of mobile phones ▲limiting visits without considering the individual characteristics of the victims. It was also found that the head of the investigated institution placed victims who did not comply with these restrictions in a solitary confinement room for four hours. Furthermore, confined victims were only released after writing a reflection letter, and if the head of the institution judged that the letter was not written or lacked sincerity, the confinement period was extended.

The investigated institution restricted class participation from a minimum of one day to a maximum of seven days, citing reasons such as risk of self-harm or harm to others and failure to comply with medication schedules. The Human Rights Commission judged that such actions constituted a violation of the right to learn. Additionally, the installation and operation of closed-circuit television (CCTV) in hospital rooms and classrooms without prior notice or consent was deemed an infringement on privacy and freedom of action. The Commission stated, "Such human rights violations in psychiatric medical institutions for adolescents are very rare cases since the establishment of the Human Rights Commission," and added, "This reaffirms the importance of integrated interventions, including therapeutic intervention for mental illnesses during adolescent development and ensuring the right to learn."

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