<Press conference by women’s and the women’s circle against reducing the National Human Rights Commission of Korea> 

Our demands:
- Immediately withdraw the policy to reduce the National Human Rights Commission of Korea which is a disgrace in the international community.
- The Lee Myeong Bak government should stop the attempt to weaken the independence of the National Human Rights Commission of Korea immediately.
-  The Lee Myeong Bak authorities should bolster human rights for the social weaker and women.

On March 25, 2009, Korean women’s organizations and women’s circle held a press conference against the reduction of the National Human Rights Commission of Korea at the back gate of the Integrated Government Building.

The Lee Myeong Bak authorities announced to reduce the structure of the National Human Rights Commission of Korea by 21% within March.  Since the commission has worked hard to improve human rights for women, the social weaker and minorities and ordinary people, the reduction means the proclamation to downgrade human rights to a less developed country.

According to statistics by the UNDP, the level of Korean women’s status dropped from 64 amongst 108 countries in 2007 to 68 in 2008. The human right report written by the U.S. Department of State said that Korean women still experienced social discrimination and sex crimes, domestic violence and trafficking of women are severe, and moreover women are exposed to sex harassment and discrimination in terms of employment, income and promotion.  Nevertheless, gender discrimination and sex harassment were transferred to the National Human Rights Commission of Korea from the Ministry of Women, and what is worse, the merger and abolition of the activities will cause the reduction.

In addition, in the poor situation of the Korean society in which the violation of human rights by the public power comprises more than 80% of the whole violation cases, political independence of the government is very essential for the existence of the commission. However, the revision of office regulations and operation and management of employees will substantially violate the independence of the commission.

Accordingly, human right organizations and groups of disabled people resolved to take action against the shrinking of the commission, and further we, the Korean women’s circle also speak up in one voice against the reduction.

First, speeches were made by Choi Young-ae, previous standing committee member of the National Human Rights Commission of Korea, Han Kuk-yeom, chairperson of Women Migrants Humanrights Center, Nam-Yoon Insoon, co-chairperson of the KWAU. Then, after Won Min-kyung, president of the women’s human right committee of Minbyun-Lawyers for a Democratic Society and Yoon Soo-kyung, co-chairperson of Women Making Peace read out the press conference declaration, a performance titled ‘Roses of human rights on Wednesdays’ was carried out in which various groups of women who had joined the press conference took part  together.

<1st policy workshop on searching for women’s employment welfare strategies: in the passionate mood created by the instructors and participants>

The 1st policy workshop on searching for women’s employment welfare strategies was held on March 31, 2009.  It was hosted to react to women’s employment and job crisis, and the crowded workshop demonstrated high interest in the topic.

The first lecture was about the policy comparison regarding the reaction to this economic crisis, and the second lecture is about ‘climate changes, energy crisis and our reaction: focusing on the criticism on the government’s low carbon green growth discussion’.

In the first lecture, the instructor identified that it depended on the subjects if the current economic crisis which was worsened and transferred to the real economic crisis would terminate 30 year neo-liberalism or has been getting worse, and highlighted financial normalization and domestic demand activation should be carried out above all in order to overcome this crisis. In particular, since neo-liberalism is a system to exclude and block employment and income-earning, he stressed to create advance economic circulation structures to overcome this contradiction.

The 2nd lecture is about climate changes and energy crisis, and it evoked and opened our eyes to the causes of energy crisis and significances that we had not recognized yet. Especially, we were shocked about the fact that the climate change by only 2 ℃ made dinosaurs extinct, which means changes in climates have a very powerful impact on ecosystem.  Since changes in climates usually result from energy crisis, we realized the necessity to change our lifestyle to solve the energy matters.

The green growth by the Lee Myeong Bak authorities excludes the concept of social equality. In addition, in the budget related to the green growth, the great majority is involved in widening and dredging the 4 rivers and construction, which is not relevant to the green growth.  Especially, the instructor stressed it should be very urgent to save and give life to branches of rivers rather than the mainstreams of the 4 rivers, in order to settle the shortage of water.

We are very thankful to many participants from KWAU, Federation of Korean Trade Unions, the Democratic Labor Party, and others.  We hope to see them in our 2nd workshop, as well.

<Participatory learning coordinator’s training: In order to improve educational planning and coordinators’ capabilities>

On April 17th and 18th, 2009, the KWWA and the Working Women Academy jointly hosted 2009’s participatory learning coordinators’ training. 33 activists from the whole KWWA’s regional organizations joined the training, and they were divided into three teams.  The basic course and supplementary course focused on personal presentation.

Major programs in the basic course were opening-mind, self-respect training, making a speech in front of the public, and improving feedbacks.  In the supplementary program focused on human relationship training, education planning training, presentation by participants and improving feedbacks.

This training course had a great chance to get familiar with one another because many newcomers took part.  Some of them evaluated that the courses were so good that they could carry out them as coordinators in practice right away: and others appraised that they would not tremble with fear before many people, and they can organize meetings with more confidence.

On the second day after the training, participants had a good time of wandering and roaming around the Hongik University, because the venue was quite close to the school.  Regional participants said that they also enjoyed the trip to Seoul for a long time…

<A happy world without any poverty and violence, let’s create— Women’s Rally in commemoration of 101 year anniversary of International Women’s Day>



On March 8, 2009 Women’s Rally was held in commemoration of 101 year anniversary of International Women’s Day.  The KWWA also took a part in this rally as an important organizer with its regional organizations.  First of all, djembe was performed as an opening performance. The djembe performers are 60 KWWA members!  They learned in a very delightful joy, how to play the drum just one hour earlier than the opening ceremony.

A major slogan in this rally was “Women create, a happy world without poverty and violence!” It contains the shade of the poverty in face of the economic crisis and the voice of women who are exposed to a variety of violence. The main slogan of this year in the rally was “1,00,0000 decent job creation, objection to the decreased taxes of the rich, expansion and increase of education and welfare, and protection of democracy and women’s human rights.”  About 800 participants made these demands together. The congratulatory address by Hahn Myeongsook, previous prime minister encouraged participants a lot to wiggle out of difficulties and songs by Kang Sahn-ae, a famous singer cheered us a lot.

All of the participants at a parade protested against the curtailment of the National Human Rights Commission of Korea in front of the headquarters of the commission, shouted anti-Chosun Ilbo in front of the headquarters, and demanded the protection of democracy at the top of their throats, having a distant view of the Chung Wa Dae (the Blue House). After the parade, while the 58 88CC golf caddies who received suspensions danced to cheer people up, participants hoped them to be reinstated.

<88CC golf caddies want to work!>



In the cold morning of March 10, 2009 in front of the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs, a press conference amongst women’s organizations was staged to demand to stop collective dismissals and violence against 88CC golf caddies and to settle down the matter through communications between the labor and the management.  It was the press conference to show views of women’s circles (Korean Women’s Associations United, Korean Women Workers Association, Korean Womenlink, Korean Women’s Trade Union) regarding the collective punishment and dismissals against 88CC golf caddies unsettled for 5 months.  The Korean women’s circle highlighted suppression against the labor union and violence against women specially hired workers, especially golf caddies which are women concentrated work.

88CC golf caddies are specially hired workers. However, they established the first trade union amongst golf caddies and it is a legal trade union. Since 1999, their collective agreement has been renewed three times. Nevertheless, when directors and field managers were changed in June 2009, after a new regime was changed, the matter has arisen: as soon as the new field manager was appointed, he threatened trade union executives saying “Because of the change of administration you are in hard times.  The administration has switched from leftists to the right wing.”  Furthermore, the managers declared a war against the trade union, saying the branch president “You can’t work nor carry out union activities any more. What’s this? You did everything in the collective agreement as you wanted. I think I need to perform an exorcism.” However, when the 88CC union brought a suit against this statement to the Ministry of Labor, the managers denied their comment.

In September when a customer complained about the rudeness of the field manager to the company president, he shifted the responsibility to a union golf caddy and stopped her from going on a field trip.  Against this incident, union members joined a 3 hour picketing and wrote their opinion on the online board of the Ministry of Patriot and Veteran Affairs, and the unionist who were stopped working waged one person demonstration in front of the ministry. On September 24, 2009, the company expelled the unionist from its membership. (It means she can’t work as a golf caddy anymore.) In addition on November, the company suspended 52 union members from going on a field trip, under the excuse of their falls from the grace of the company. The field managers promised that the 88CC union members could be restored to work if they write pledges and introspection. However, they have forced union members to secede from the union and to join a council ruled by the management if the union members brought introspection and pledges.  The golf caddies who cannot join any field trips mean actual dismissals, in fact.

In December, the company accused 22 union members of interference in the execution of its duty, defamation, and violation of the information and communications related act.  In addition, on January 14th, 2009, the company expelled three union members from its membership.  What is worse, in February 28, 2009, field managers beat two union executives and broke down their mobile phones and cameras.  The union members were diagnosed with three week treatment.

The women’s circle demanded the Minister to have interview with them before the press conference. However, the Ministry of Patriot and Veteran Affairs refused that and made a poor excuse that the ministry has consigned 88CC. However, the earnings from 88CC are sent to the Ministry and the golf course is run with the budget from the Patriot fund. According to clause No. 5 of the general rules on the budget regarding 88CC, increases in budget for personnel should be decided by the board of directors, and changes in related items should be approved by the Ministry of Patriot and Veteran Affairs. Is it ironical that the Ministry is not responsible in terms of management and operation of the golf course even though an approval regarding the increase in budget has to be gained from the Ministry of Patriot and Veteran Affairs?

In the press conference, Park Youngmi, co-chairperson of the KWAU strongly denounced the ministry, saying “Women workers’ human rights have been violated seriously.  The Ministry of Patriot and Veteran Affairs gives up its social responsibility to control and administer unfair labor practices in its agency and protect workers who are the social weaker.” 

In the press conference, Kim Eun-sook, 88CC union branch president assured “We shall be united for us to protect our legal trade union and go back to our work.”

<Publishing ”Weaving Tapestries of Hope: a herstory of 20 year of the KWWA” >



Since 2007 when it was 20 years of the KWWA, the publication of its herstory had been planned, and finally “Weaving Tapestries of Hope” in Korean was published.  There were two sections in the book: In the first section, 20 year activities of the KWWA between 1987 and 2006 were described; and in the second section, the lives of 12 women workers were depicted vividly.

The first part regarding KWWA’s 20 year of activities, outcomes and tasks were written by Sohn Young Ju, a previous secretary-general and the evaluation team.  Ms. Sohn collected data and wrote the draft, and the evaluation team consisting of 8 previous and present fulltime activists had evaluation and discussion several times.  It contains various important moments in details: the social atmosphere and live testimony when the KWWA was created in 1987; and how to organize unemployed women and how to socially raise their issues in face of the Korean economic crisis in 1997; since the economic crisis, KWWA’s reactions and countermeasures regarding women workers who became irregular and in poverty, and in 2008 new vision set in the course when its herstory of 20 years was arranged.  You can feel the heartbeats and breaths that KWWA have taken for 20 years. “Weaving Tapestries of Hope” enables you to listen to so vivid and dynamic situations as to a herstory of 20 years of KWWA that you can draw pictures about the herstory.

The 2nd section is about ‘my life and my work’ of 12 women workers, which was written by Shin Kyeong-A, a professor of sociology of the Hallym University. The second sector portrays vivid stories regarding how 12 women workers whose jobs are in women workers concentrated industries have led her lives for the past 20 years, shed tears, but they had to stand up firmly. The section covers the stories about a sewer and a woman worker who were in charge of electronic assembly in their 50s, and a bank clerk, clerical worker, service worker, insurance saleswoman, telemarketer, and nurse in their 40s, a programmer, care worker, and clerical worker in their 30s, and a woman unemployed university graduator in her 20s.  Most of them were from poor families. Because their mothers were breadwinners, they were not able to starve and able to complete up to their middle schools or high schools. Since they saw their mothers working hard all the way, they tried to gain things with their clear economic motives.  These women who tried to lead a subjective and independent life with strong self-motivation have gone through a lot of difficulties and obstacles, which shows how tired women and workers are in the Korean society.

“Weaving Tapestries of Hope” was also published in English, too. However the English version has only the first section.

Each book is 10,000 won, and it will be distributed free to KWWA’s members.

<Seed managing activists learn! Play! And their energy become recharged!>



Between February 19 and 20, 2009, nationwide seed managing activists held a ‘Workshop of 2009 for Seed Managing Activists for Exchanging Hope,’ visiting to see the Wonju Cooperative Movement and listening to the history of the cooperative movement and its current state and vision.

Wonju is an important place in the Korean history, where the democracy movement against dictatorship has been waged, led by Moo-wi-dang Jang IL-soon and Bishop Ji Haksoon, and Kim Ji-ha, since 1970s, and where the cooperative movement is already flowered based on self-government and cooperation amongst local people.  To deepen their understanding on the cooperative movement and discuss ways to boost the movement for exchanging hope, the activists visited Wonju. 

Seed managing activists’ schedule was like that: visiting Moo-wi-dang memorial → listening to the history and current state of the Wonju Cooperative Movement (presented by its secretary general) → visiting the Wonju Medical Living Cooperative → listening up to cases of Nuri  Credit union and Kalgury Credit Union → Visiting Wonju village center→ having dinner at a local organic restaurant → Staying in the  Toji  Foundation of Culture and having discussion (theme: major action plans and practical strategies of KWWA’s seed exchanging movement in 2009) → Visiting the Toji park → climbing Chi-ak-san mountain. 

The night sky at Wonju city was starry and beautiful.  We sharing our opinions together like this: ‘We are inspired by the cooperative movement.  I am very moved and inspired by ‘I fall down everyday but I also rise again everyday’, the comment by the Moo-wi-dang. I want to live in Wonju.  The activity for the long history is also very impressive. However, activities by women and the youth seem poorer. After I listened to the stories about the cooperative movement, I feel boosting membership participation is more important than local resource liaison.’ We also discussed ways to boost regional branches’ exchanging hope and made practical plans.  Next morning when we realized it had snowed in large flakes the previous night, happily we went to Toji park and Chi-ak-san mountain. 

I would like to thank you for your efforts, activists.  Let’s conduct a strong exchanging hope movement to help our members who shrink up from difficult livelihood to pull their shoulders back!!

<Press conference regarding the evaluation on 1 year women’s policies by Lee Myeong Bak government>
 


On February 18, 2009, a press conference was staged regarding the evaluation on women’s policies by Lee Myeong Bak government for the past one year.  In a word, the current government ‘failed’. Evaluators by sector saw the women’s policies by the current administration as “loss of gender equal policies,’ “absence from the awareness of women’s human rights and gender sensitive governance,’ ‘retreat of family and childcare policies,’ ‘nominal job creation for women.’ Many women veteran activists such as Kwon Mi-hyuk, chairperson of the Korean Womenlink, Nam-Yoon Insoon,  the KWAU, Jeong Moon Ja, chairperson of the KWWA, Jeong Choonsook, chairperson of the Korea Women’s Hot Line, Lee Yoon-sang, chairperson of the Korea Sexual Violence Relief Center, Han Kook-yeom, chairperson of Women Migrants Human Rights Center, and Jang Myeongsook, chairperson of Differently Able Women United, participated in the major evaluation session.

1. Major policy tasks for women are as follows:
Since the current government was launched, Worries have been raised that the Korean democracy and human rights are absent, and violence and discrimination by the government are also far more serious. In addition, the communication and cooperation with the civil society have reached not only the level of cessation but also that of suppression, surveillance and split. Under these social circumstances, the recent heavy crimes have showed the worsening discrimination and violence against the social weak such as women and the disabled. Amidst the economic crisis in which things are tough and there are no emotional rooms, the government should take more care of human rights, providing social security for the social weak.
① The consolidation of the Ministry of Women and the enactment of gender equality basic law;
② The establishment of public childcare policies whose responsibility was taken by the government;
③ The establishment of comprehensive family policies in combination of gender issues and family issues;
④ The establishment of comprehensive countermeasures against low birth rates;
⑤ 500,000 decent job creation for women;
⑥ Stop the retrogressive revision of Temporary Employee Protection Act and regularize women irregular workers in the public sector;
⑦ The establishment of long and short term schemes for the prevention of domestic violence and protection of victims;
⑧ The provision of long-term gender sensitive women’s policies to prevent violence against women and support women victims;
⑨ Criminal law reform (in terms of violation of sex self-determination, abolishment of offense subject to complaints, and suspension or extension of statute of limitations) 
⑩ The consolidation of execution of the law controlling sex agencies;
⑪ The prevention of the commercialization of women and violation of women’s human rights in the course of their inflows through international marriage;
⑫ The establishment of human right-oriented and gender-sensitive and diversity-based policies rather than social integration based on family;
⑬ The provision of life-long education for disabled women
⑭ Re-adjustment of uneven budgets and policies

2. The evaluation and tasks regarding women workers’ policies are as follows:
<Overall evaluation>
1) The Lee Myeong Bak administration declared to create 500,000 women-tailored jobs and set up ‘New Occupation for Women Centers (Now Centers)’  for women whose careers are discontinued as women’s labor policies, and to create family friendly enterprises as its grand scheme. However, no women’s labor policies were fulfilled except the establishment of 3 model NOW Centers and appointment of the 50 centers.
2) Women’s job policies in the social service sector are fulfilled in the form of vouchers to promote market principle-oriented competition in the social service sector, and in particular, because different ministries are in charge, the administration does not seize how many women’s jobs are there in the social service sector.
3) Although the current administration claims to protect vulnerable classes and irregular workers, it forces workers to take the economic burdens to tackle the current economic crisis.  Most of women are low wage irregular workers. The administration tries to reduce incomes of irregular workers and change for the worse of the duration of irregular periods.
4) The administration suggested making family friendly enterprises as its public pledges and grand schemes through balancing women’s jobs and family, but the related ministries such as the Ministry of Women and the Ministry of Labor do not have such plans nor carry out them.  We doubt if the administration will help both of men and women to balance their jobs and families: work together and take care of their families together.

<Policy demands>
1) 500,000 decent job creation for women:
Because two thirds of the workers in the social service sector are regarded as women, decent jobs should be created in the social service sector.  The administration should fulfill its public pledges.  They include the provision of standard wages (annual 20 million won, which accounts for 60% of average wages of the whole workers), the application of the labor law and 4 social insurances, the provision of training opportunities, and public spirited social service, and 500,000 job creation for women in the social service sector.
2) Stop the retrogressive revision of the Temporary Employee Protection Act and regularize women irregular workers in the public sector:
The government and the Grand National Party try to transfer to the Temporary Employee Protection Act, the responsibility for worsening employment due to the current economic crisis. Their attempt to extend the duration in which workers have to work as irregular workers from 2 years to 4 years is to produce only 4 year term irregular workers.

The size and treatment of women irregular workers in the public sector are determined unreasonably in accordance with the governmental small budget. Taking the circumstance into consideration, the government should proclaim its scheme to regularize irregular workers from the public sector to improve gender equality.
3) Creating social atmosphere for women to balance their jobs and lives:
There has been an increase in dismissals and disadvantages to women due to their pregnancy and childbirth amidst the current economic crisis (In 2008, according to counseling by KWWA, these disadvantages rose by 34% compared to 2007.)  We demand the administration to stop dismissals and disadvantages due to women’s pregnancy and childbirth, and the supervision should be reinforced; to stop the cancellation of contracts when irregular women workers take maternity leave; and to provide the right to remunerate women for maternity leaves if their contracts were terminated during their maternity leaves. The government should view this as extending women’s contracts; and we also demand the government to improve insurance subscription rates for low incomers (including very small size self-employers, specially hired workers, and care workers in the informal sector) through encouraging social insurances.

4) Withdrawing the retrogressive revision of the minimum wage and realizing living wages
The government should provide living wages for workers who work hard to overcome the current economic crisis.  It should provide living wages for women workers through increasing the minimum wage up to the level 50% of average wages of all workers, in order to upgrade women workers’ power of purchase and boost the domestic market.

<5th meeting of NCHM regular representatives>

National Cooperative of House Managers (NCHM) provided a springboard for its development through changing its structure and appointing new executives. 

The meeting of representatives was held on February 14, 2009, on Saturday, in which about 69 representatives and observers took part.  In the meeting, the NCHM selected Cho Mi-kyung (chairperson of Incheon branch) and Kim Kyung-hee (the current chairperson) as co-chairpersons for the 3rd term, and Yoon He-ryeon (the current auditor) and Choi Jeom-ok (chairperson of Pusan branch) as co-auditors.  In addition, a big structure change was made: individual members can be upgraded to branches from members.  This structural change aims for strengthening branches in local communities and empowering individual members, while consolidating the role of branches.

On that day, each branch had performances before the meeting was held.  Members had a very good time and brightened the atmosphere for the meeting of representatives, preparing performances together.  In the contest, the Daegu branch whose members danced in pink, using colorful artificial flowers, came to the first prize.

At the close of the meeting, firm resolutions were delivered by newly appointed branch heads.

<Inauguration speech by the new chairperson> 



I am very glad to make this speech.  I am the new chairperson of the KWWA, Jeong Moon Ja. 

Today, the Korean society has faced political, economical and social crises.  To tackle and overcome these crises, KWWA will take the following actions under the flag of the construction of communities of equality and peace promoting precious life values based on the vital powers of working women,’ as KWWA’s vision: 1. We will focus on the consolidation of capacities of our members and activists through the organization suitable for a variety of circumstances and conditions of women; 2. We will fight against the retrogressive regulations and laws worsening the livelihood of women workers and poor women, and demand to provide appropriate policies to this current economic crisis; 3. We will wage alternative women workers’ movement for women workers to create happy lives in spite of consuming less—constructing social economic communities, and activating community money campaigns.

Jeong Moon Ja
Chairperson
KWWA