The Committee on the Rights of the Child today considered the reports of the Republic of Korea under the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography and the Optional Protocol on children in armed conflict.
Concerning the implementation of the Optional Protocol on the involvement of children in armed conflict, the involvement of children under 18 in armed conflict was strictly prohibited by law under any circumstances. Several amendments of national laws had been adopted since limiting the age to 18 in compliance with the Protocol.
As for implementation of the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography, trafficking was a grave crime, and punished under several laws in the Republic of Korea. Cases of child trafficking had not been found in the Republic of Korea so far. Comprehensive measures had also been established for child protection and safety against prostitution and pornography.
Moreover, a monitoring commission had been established under the office of the Prime Minister in order to eliminate and prevent crimes related to child prostitution and pornography. In her preliminary observations, Alya Ahmed Bin Saif Al- Thani, the Committee Expert acting as Rapporteur for the report under the Optional Protocol on children in armed conflict, said that positive moves had been seen, such as creation of the National Human Rights Commission, and the ongoing discussion in Korea about the banning of corporal punishment in all schools.
Rosa Maria Ortiz, the Rapporteur for the report under the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography, also in preliminary observations, noted efforts made by the Republic of Korea in dealing with trafficking, child prostitution and child pornography. The legislation had just been revised and was relatively advanced; however, it would need to be further adjusted to cover all the aspects of the protocol.
