On 25 October 2012, the Republic of Korea was reviewed under the Universal Periodic Review (UPR), which is a process to review the overall human rights situation and records of all 193 UN Member States. Unfortunately, the Government did not make a positive response to most recommendations made during the UPR session, except the withdrawal of reservation on Article 21(a) of the Convention on the Rights of the Child and taking concrete steps to ratify the Palermo Protocols. Korean civil society organizations are deeply concerned that the Government did not show its full commitment to improve human rights during the UPR session and urge the Government to work in conformity with the objective of the UPR, which is to improve the human rights situation within the country.

Read more in the joint commentary by the Korean NGO Coalition.