South Korea: Commission releases survey on effects of torture
The National Human Rights Commission of Korea has concluded a seven-month fact-finding survey looking at the effects of torture on victims.
The National Human Rights Commission of Korea (NHRCK), in conjunction with the Institute for Medicine and Human Rights, has concluded a seven-month fact-finding survey looking at the effects of torture on victims.
The researchers surveyed 213 torture victims and 10 family members and conducted in-depth interviews with 24 torture victims.
The survey revealed that approximately 60% of respondents experienced severe economic difficulties and 76.5% claimed to have experienced post traumatic stress disorder. Furthermore, 24.2% of respondents had attempted to commit suicide.
The Commission will share the survey results with relevant governmental agencies, NGOs, torture victims, academics and medical and legal experts in order to develop policy recommendations to eliminate torture and improve human rights protection for torture victims.
In addition, the NHRCK will seek to raise public awareness on the issue, establish a support system for the rehabilitation and treatment for torture victims and encourage the Government to ratify the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture.
Date: 7 December 2011
