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Human Rights Panel to Hold Forum on Chemical Castration

Posted July. 12, 2010 12:48,   

한국어

The National Human Rights Commission of Korea will host a panel discussion Thursday on tougher measures on sex offenders, namely chemical castration and releasing the offenders’ identities.

The commission said Sunday that it will present its opinions on the matter to the National Assembly and the government within this year based on the discussion, and suggest improvements.

The panel discussion on “Prevention of Sexual Violence Against Children and Human Rights” will be held at the commission’s office in downtown Seoul. The topics will include general issues on sexual violence against children such as chemical castration of sex offenders, the efficiency of electronic monitoring ankle bracelets, prevention of double damage to the victims of sexual crimes, and releasing the identities of sexual predators.

Pyo Chang-won, a professor at Korea National Police University, and Lee Ho-jung, a law professor at Sogang University, will make presentations and eight panelists from the Gender Equality and Family Ministry, police and the media will participate at the event.

“We’re aware that government agencies are also trying to come up with measures given the recent series of sex crimes against children,” a commission source said. “In this regard, we’ve decided to open a panel discussion to reach a social consensus.”

In June last year, the commission said showing a criminal’s face when he or she is handcuffed and tied with ropes is a human rights violation. It has yet to comment, however, on making public the face of Kim Kil-tae, a chronic child sex offender who raped and killed a teenage girl in Busan in March, or on chemical castration of juvenile sex offenders passed by parliament last month.

“Many experts doubt whether stricter punishment will deter sex crimes against children,” the commission said. “Because of opposition to the chemical castration bill that passed the National Assembly, we will gather opinions through sufficient discussions.”



jmpark@donga.com