[Joint Statement] The Government should respond to the #MeToo movement with actual measures!

 

After the sexual violence incident in the Prosecution Service was disclosed in January 29th, the #MeToo movement has expanded towards various sectors of the society. This pouring of “Me Too” is Korean women’s sympathetic and communal response to the social structural violence, not to an individual unlucky experience. To change the structure, #MeToo movement has extended to #WithYou movement. President Moon Jae-in stated on 26th that “I support (the #MeToo movement)” and that the Government will come up with proper measures. On 27th, the Government announced “Complementary Policy against Sexual Harassment and Sexual Violence in the Public Institutions” with the establishment of a cross-government council with the Minister of Gender Equality and Family as a chair.

 

 

This policy includes the opening of Sexual Violence Complaint Center in the public institutions during one hundred days from March, the expulsion of perpetrator from the public office who gets punished by the fine or more, Sexual Violence Complaint Online Center for universities and schools, supporting system for victim such as free legal aid and psychotherapy aid, and the recommendation of hiring nongovernmental experts to deal with sexual harassment issue within the public institutions. Korean Women’s Associations United welcomes the Government’s will to resolve the problem and its coming up with various measures. However, we raise a question how much these policies can produce actual effects.

 

 

This policy focuses only on the public institutions. What does the Ministry of Employment and Labor do? As we can see from the Hansaem incident, sexual violence prevails in the nongovernmental areas as well. It is very doubtful if the Government has enough will to solve the problem. The Government should announce a policy not only for the public offices but also for the private sectors.

 

 

Also, the Government need to inspect the existing petition process before establishing a new Complaint Center. Hiring nongovernmental experts to deal with sexual harassment issue within the public institutions should be mandatory, not just recommended, and the civilian experts should strengthen monitoring the petition-response process to prevent re-victimization.

 

 

In response to many victims’ fear of counteraccusation and re-victimization, the Government should clearly deliver its will to help victims speaking up. In so doing, voice-restricting laws such as false accusation and defamation regarding facts with hostility should be reconsidered and revised.

 

 

Victims courageously place petitions despite the hostile social atmosphere with suspicion, because they want the perpetrators to be properly punished and they want the society without sexual violence. We urge the Government to declare its strong will to punish perpetrators to help victims getting over.

 

 

In order to effectively implement the various policies announced, the Government should vest the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family with actual authority to control the matter. Other than the cross-government council, each related department also should construct an effective response system to problem. 

 

 

Women in the last Candlelight square urged the removal of sexist social culture and sexual violence as well as the regime change. It is time for the society to answer to these women’s demand. We hope the recent movements of #SexualViolenceWithinOOO and #MeToo provide the foundation for the uprooting of sexism and sexual violence in Korean society. We will keep inspecting the Government and other social groups and urging them to come up with actual measures.

 

 

2018. 02. 28.

 

Korean Women’s Associations United

Seven regional branches and twenty-eight affiliated associations

 

 

Posted by KWWA
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