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Opinions on Human Rights of Children [2004] KRNHRC 4 (1 January 2004)

The Ministry of Health and Welfare prepared a bill on amendment to Child Welfare Act
to protect the human rights of children by restricting forced participation of children in
assemblies and demonstrations. The Commission expressed its opinion that the bill should
be repealed. The bill called for punishment of guardians who make children participate in
legal assemblies and demonstrations even without ill-treatment, abandonment, or noninterference,
and for those who urge children to participate in such assemblies and demonstrations to
make statements. The Commission decided that such provisions of the bill are against the
Child Welfare Act and the UN Convention on the Right of the Child, which stipulate that
the interests of children be considered first with prime priority. The Ministry of Health and
Welfare accepted the opinion and repealed the bill.