The two-month-old Ministry of Gender Equality has finally outlined its job for the year 2001. Minister Han Myong Sook revealed the ministry's plans at a policy discussion session hosted by the KNCW on April 6 at the Sejong Hotel. The following are the highlights of the plans.
▲ Appoint officers at the team/bureau chief level as women policy coordinating officers in every ministry. These officers will ensure that the policy-making process reflects gender equality, and act as mediators and consultants in inter-ministerial discussions on women policies.
▲ Develop an evaluation index in order to assess national policies from a gender equality point of view. Establish a system to reorganize statistics according to gender so that women-related indexes are reflected in such statistics.
▲ Restructure women-related organizations within the local autonomous governments.
▲ Set up and operate Women-net, an online channel for women's information. Utilize Women-net to provide social education for women, network women groups, and provide counseling for victims of gender discrimination and sexual violence. Launch the 'Housewives online an hour a day' campaign, and manage groups of housewives who can monitor illegal or harmful websites.
▲ Form public consensus and formulate measures to abolish the hoju system
▲ Set up a one-stop protection network that not only prevents sexual and domestic violence but also provides victims with emergency shelters, counseling, medical care and legal aid.
▲ Gather the opinions of civic groups and experts and campaign for the amendment of the Anti-prostitution Act.
▲ Raise greater public awareness of the situation of comfort women by conducting surveys both in and out of Korea and publishing a handbook of witness reports.
