1. Visiting Professor Shin Hei-soo of Ewha Womans University Graduate School of International Studies (President of the Korea Center for United Nations Human Rights Policy) was elected for her third term (2019-2022 term) as a member of the UN Committee on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights (CESCR) at the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) meeting on April 16.

※ The CESCR, composed of 18 experts on international human rights, monitors the implementation of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights by its states parties. After being elected to the CESCR for the 2011-2014 term for the first time, Professor Shin Hei-soo has been elected for her third term this time, following her second term from 2015 to 2018.

※ The Republic of Korea acceded to the Covenant in April 1990. Its fourth report on the implementation of the Covenant was examined in September 2017.

2. Her election for three consecutive terms to the CESCR, a major human rights treaty body that monitors social security, labor, wages, education, corporate management, and the protection of the elderly, children and other vulnerable groups in 165 states parties, is seen as a result of the international community’s recognition of her contributions in the area of women and human rights, including a range of activities during her two terms at the CESCR, as well as activities as a member of the Committee on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women and a non-standing commissioner of the National Human Rights Commission of Korea.

3. In order to contribute to the international efforts to protect and promote human rights, the ROK government is actively working to help more Koreans with expertise participate in international human rights mechanisms. Koreans currently working actively at UN human rights mechanisms include Kim Hyung-shik, a member of the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, Chung Chin-sung, a member of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, Seo Chang-rok, a member of the Human Rights Council Advisory Committee, Lee Yang-hee, the Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in Myanmar, Hong Seong-phil, a member of the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, and Baik Tae-ung, a member of the Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances.

* unofficial translation