Ahn Chang-ho, the Chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission, has reportedly sent a letter to an international human rights organization criticizing the Constitutional Court.
According to the Human Rights Commission on the 3rd, Chairperson Ahn stated in a letter to the Sub-Committee on Accreditation of the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI) that survey results showing nearly 50% of the public do not trust the Constitutional Court indicates the urgent need for the court to regain trust and ensure fairness.
Chairperson Ahn remarked, “A considerable number of citizens claim that certain justices’ affiliations and past behaviors make them unsuitable to uphold constitutional values and order.” He added that the Constitutional Court’s decisions might exacerbate conflicts and chaos, potentially creating new human rights issues.
Previously, in December of the previous year, 204 domestic human rights organizations requested that GANHRI conduct a special review of the Korean Human Rights Commission, citing reasons like the advocacy of martial law on December 3. This organization, which is an alliance of 118 international human rights bodies, conducts grading reviews of national human rights agencies every five years. A general meeting in Geneva, Switzerland, on the 10th will decide whether to proceed with the special review of the Human Rights Commission.
Chairperson Ahn will leave for Geneva on the 8th to attend the GANHRI general meeting. The Human Rights Commission has maintained an ‘A’ grade over the years, except for a period during President Lee Myung-bak’s tenure, when the chairperson at the time, Hyun Byung-chul, was subject to a grade deferral.