Joint Public-Private Response to Disability Abuse... Proactive Prevention Including Facility Inspections

by Cho Seongpill

Published 20 Apr.2022 06:36(KST)

Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency stock photo / Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Seongpil Cho] The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency announced on the 20th that it will establish a 'Joint Response System for Disability Abuse' in collaboration with the Seoul Metropolitan Government and the Disability Rights Advocacy Organization in observance of Disability Day.

They plan to cooperate on ▲ operating a joint response working council for disability abuse ▲ conducting joint inspections of welfare facilities for the disabled ▲ providing on-site response training on disability abuse for the police ▲ carrying out joint campaigns to prevent disability abuse. To this end, a working council will be formed to jointly respond to serious cases of disability abuse, set policy directions for disability abuse, and review progress on related tasks.

Additionally, to prevent disability abuse in advance, they will conduct annual joint inspections of welfare facilities for the disabled. If signs of abuse are detected, they plan to proactively shift to investigations and other preventive activities. This year, the inspection targets are 138 vocational rehabilitation facilities for the disabled, scheduled to be conducted in July. On-site response training on disability abuse for the police will also be held. This measure aims to improve police awareness of disabilities and enhance their on-site response capabilities related to disability abuse cases, targeting Abuse Prevention Officers (APO) and Women and Youth Investigation Teams.

This collaboration was promoted as a consensus was formed on the need to establish a cooperative system among related organizations due to the continuous increase in reports of disability abuse and growing social interest in disability rights. Choi Gwan-ho, Commissioner of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, stated, "We will strive to create a safe environment that citizens can tangibly feel by having related organizations cooperate organically."