Human Rights Commission: "Saemaeul Undong Central Association Should Avoid Restricting Membership Based on Gender"

[Asia Economy Reporter Seongpil Cho] The National Human Rights Commission announced on the 7th that it conveyed the opinion to the Saemaeul Undong Central Association president that the practice of restricting membership based on gender should be avoided and that the organization’s name should be revised to use gender-equal terms.

On the same day, the Human Rights Commission dismissed a complaint that the Saemaeul leaders grant membership only to men according to their bylaws and that the name Saemaeul Women’s Association is discriminatory, while expressing this opinion. The Commission explained, “In the relevant bylaws, membership for Saemaeul leaders is limited to men, excluding women, and it is difficult to deny that this practice has played a role in maintaining and reinforcing the gender role stereotype that ‘leaders are suitable men.’”

The Commission judged, “Considering the social demand for gender equality in this era of change, unless it is absolutely necessary due to the nature of volunteer activities, it is desirable to avoid classification based on gender and to improve the organization’s name to a gender-neutral term rather than ‘Women’s Association.’” Currently, the Saemaeul Undong Central Association has five member organizations: the Saemaeul Leaders Central Council, Saemaeul Women’s Association Central Federation, Workplace and Factory Saemaeul Undong Central Council, Saemaeul Library Central Association, and Saemaeul Geumgo Central Association.

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