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Opinion on the Full Amendment to the Child Welfare Act [2008] KRNHRC 26 (1 July 2008)

In July 2008, the Ministry for Health, Welfare and Family Affairs asked the
Commission to review the Full Amendment to the Child Welfare Act.
The Commission discovered that the proposed amendment contained positive elements
to protect the human rights of children. Still, it presented its opinion to the Minister of
Health, Welfare and Family Affairs that the Ministry should clearly define the concepts
and beneficiaries of "protection," "assistance," "emergency intervention," and "special
assistance" and "assistance service" details, and that the Ministry should insert provisions
on children's rights to express their opinion on various legal and administrative actions,
according to their age, in order to ensure that the proposed amendment contributes to
promoting the human rights of children.

The Ministry for Health, Welfare and Family Affairs accepted the Commission's
opinion to insert clauses on penalties on violation of temporary measures and revised its
proposal. The proposed amendment is now before the Healthcare, Welfare, and Family
Affairs Committee of the National Assembly.