UPR Sexual Rights Database

Search & Filters

Select one or more parameters to begin your search. You may also search by keyword at any time.

UN Member State that is reviewed on its human rights record as part of the UPR process.

Categories of the types of information used during reviews

Show advanced filters
Source of Reference

Recommending State

UN Member State or Permanent Observer making sexual rights related recommendations, comments or asking questions to the State under Review.

Review Documentation

Sources of information used as the basis for a State’s review.  Includes the State’s National Report, UN Compilation Report and a Stakeholder Summary.

UN Regional Group to which State under Review belongs.

UN Regional Group to which Recommending State belongs.

This will only match recommendations where the Source of Review is a State.

Implementation notes

State responses to recommendations and issues raised in the UN Compilation and Stakeholder summary.

Displaying 41801 - 41825 of 58160 recommendations found
  • State Under Review:

    Republic of Korea

    Republic of Korea
    Regional group
    Asia-Pacific Group
    Source Of Reference:

    Spain

    Spain
    Regional group
    WEOG
    Political group
    EU
    OEI
    Issue:
    • Discrimination based on sexual orientation
    Type:
    Recommendation
    Session:
    14th session, November 2012
    Status:
    Unclear Response
    Contents:
    Include in the Anti-discrimination Law a specific prohibition on discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.
    Explanation
    The Government will consider the inclusion of sexual orientation in the research and review process for the enactment of the Anti-discrimination Act.
    Implementation
    National Report:
    Para 15) The Constitution, the National Human Rights Commission of Korea Act, and 90 other legislations prohibit discrimination in a number of sectors based on various grounds, including sexual orientation and gender identity. Since 2006, the Government collected various opinions and continued with its research for the sake of legislative integrity in an effort to enact general anti-discrimination laws. Nevertheless, legislative procedure did not proceed, as a number of legislative bills proposed by the Government and lawmakers did not make it to the discussion at the National Assembly and were discarded upon expiration of the term. In 2013, the Government presented the enactment of anti-discrimination act as one of the policy tasks, organizing a working group to undertake the enactment of the law and conducting research on foreign legislations and precedents. Nonetheless, legislative process has been stagnant because of social controversy related to prohibited grounds of discrimination such as sexual orientation. The Government will carry on research and review a number of issues pertaining to the general anti-discrimination law and listen to public opinion.

    Stakeholder Summary:
    Para 27) JS1 and JS5 stated that lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) persons were subject to discrimination and stigmatization in public and private spheres. JS5 reported on incidents of hate crimes against them. LGBTI adolescents remained a vulnerable group, at the risk of being exposed to hate speech and bullying and of terminating their studies. JS5 concluded that the authorities failed to provide equal protection to LGBTI persons.
    Para 29) AI reported that civil society LGBTI groups continued to face discrimination, including at the hands of authorities. In 2015, the Beyond the Rainbow Foundation was refused registration, and the Seoul Metropolitan Police refused to grant a permit to the Pride Parade. The ban was only overturned when the organizers filed a petition to the court. JS1and JS5 made similar observations.
    Para 30) Kaleidoscope Australia Human Rights Foundation (Kaleidoscope) stated that the Republic of Korea did not recognise marriage between same-sex couples. The legislation did not specifically state that marriage was between a man and a woman, but all rights and duties in the legislation described marriage as between a husband and wife. JS5 made similar observations.
    Para 31) Kaleidoscope stated that LGBTI persons faced discrimination in the context of adoption as they were effectively prohibited from adopting children under the age of 15.
  • State Under Review:

    Republic of Korea

    Republic of Korea
    Regional group
    Asia-Pacific Group
    Source Of Reference:

    Romania

    Romania
    Regional group
    EEG
    Political group
    EU
    OIF
    Issue:
    • Birth registration
    Type:
    Recommendation
    Session:
    14th session, November 2012
    Status:
    Unclear Response
    Contents:
    Enact measures regarding the civil registration of children at birth in order to fight the possible traffic in human beings.
    Implementation
    National Report:
    Para 50) The universal birth registration requires mandatory birth reporting upon the birth of a child. The birth of a child of foreign nationals born in the Republic of Korea shall be registered in accordance with the laws of their countries even in cases where the parents are undocumented migrants. Children born to refugees can be registered as foreigners if they submit birth certificate issued by a hospital. The Act on the Registration, etc. of Family Relation was amended in May 2016 to allow a prosecutor or the head of a local government to report a child’s birth if the persons who are obligated to report fails to do and jeopardizes the child’s welfare.

    UN Compilation:
    Para 15) Noting the universal periodic review recommendation on a birth registration system, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) reported that the birth registration system failed to ensure universal and compulsory birth registration and that foreigners whose children had been born in the country were not able to register their children through the family register, although their children might receive a birth notification document from the hospital.

    Stakeholder Summary:
    Para 23) JS2 stated that the Government has refused to register births of children of foreign nationals. The parents might register the birth of their child through the embassies of their countries. However, refugees were often reluctant to approach the embassies to register the birth of their child.
  • State Under Review:

    Republic of Korea

    Republic of Korea
    Regional group
    Asia-Pacific Group
    Source Of Reference:

    Moldova

    Moldova
    Regional group
    EEG
    Political group
    CIS
    OIF
    Issue:
    • Sexual exploitation / slavery
    • Trafficking in women and / or girls
    Type:
    Recommendation
    Session:
    14th session, November 2012
    Status:
    Accepted
    Contents:
    Strengthen the cooperation both at national and international levels in fighting against human trafficking equally for the purposes of sexual exploitation and forced labour.
    Implementation
    National Report:
    Para 55) The Government amended the Criminal Act to newly stipulate the crime of human trafficking in order to ratify the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress, and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, Supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime. The amended Criminal Act expanded the purpose of kidnapping and abduction, along with the previously stipulated purpose of “engaging in an indecent act, sexual intercourse or marriage, or for gain” and “transportation of a person out of the Republic of Korea”, to include the purpose of “labour exploitation, sex trafficking, or the acquisition of organs”. The consequentially aggravated crimes of human trafficking were also more specified into bodily injury and murder and death, in line with the principle of liability. A person who recruits, transfers, or delivers another with the intent to commit human trafficking has become principal rather than accessory under the amended Criminal Act, as such acts are defined as distinct acts of crimes. The provision of universal jurisdiction has been introduced so as to punish foreign nationals in the territory of the Republic of Korea, who have committed the same crime outside the Republic of Korea. The Government presented the bill for the consent of the ratification of the Protocol on Trafficking in Persons, which passed National Assembly in 2015 and the instrument of ratification was deposited with the United Nations. The Protocol took effect in Korea on 5 December 2015.

    UN Compilation:
    Para 57) The HR Committee noted with concern that, while the Republic of Korea was a source, transit and destination country for human trafficking, traffickers were rarely prosecuted and convicted. It was concerned ...that women entering the country on E-6 (culture and entertainment) visas were frequently trapped into prostitution, ... .

    Stakeholder Summary:
    Para 56) AI stated that the definition of human trafficking was not consistent with international law. JS2 reported that law enforcement officers often failed to identify victims of human trafficking and trafficking victims who were trafficked for labour and sexual exploitation could not receive a proper protection.
  • State Under Review:

    Republic of Korea

    Republic of Korea
    Regional group
    Asia-Pacific Group
    Source Of Reference:

    National Report

    Issue:
    • Sexual abuse
    • Other
    Type:
    Review Documentation
    Session:
    14th session, November 2012
    Status:
    N/A
    Contents:
    Amendments to the Social Services Act were passed in January 2012 and will be put into effect in August 2012. The amended Act sets forth the protection of human rights as one of basic principles of social services and duties of social service workers. The Act ... prohibits employment of convicted sex offenders against children and juveniles by social service institutions ... [Para 24]
  • State Under Review:

    Republic of Korea

    Republic of Korea
    Regional group
    Asia-Pacific Group
    Source Of Reference:

    UN Compilation

    Issue:
    • Sexual exploitation / slavery
    • Sexual violence
    Type:
    Review Documentation
    Session:
    14th session, November 2012
    Status:
    Reference Addressed
    Contents:
    ... CRC recommended that the Republic of Korea take appropriate measures to prevent sexual violence against children and make more efforts to effectively prosecute the sexual exploitation of children. [Para 19]
  • State Under Review:

    Republic of Korea

    Republic of Korea
    Regional group
    Asia-Pacific Group
    Source Of Reference:

    Stakeholder Summary

    Issue:
    • International human rights instruments
    Type:
    Review Documentation
    Session:
    14th session, November 2012
    Status:
    Reference Addressed
    Contents:
    AI and/or ICJ called for the ratification of OP-CRC-IC, OP-ICESCR ... [Para 25]
  • State Under Review:

    Republic of Korea

    Republic of Korea
    Regional group
    Asia-Pacific Group
    Source Of Reference:

    Colombia

    Colombia
    Regional group
    GRULAC
    Political group
    OAS
    OEI
    ACS
    Issue:
    • Intersex persons' rights
    • Rights of same-sex desiring persons
    • Transgender persons' rights
    Type:
    Recommendation
    Session:
    42nd Session, January 2023
    Status:
    Unclear Response
    Contents:
    Strengthen the legal framework to protect and promote the rights of LGTBIQ+ persons.
    Explanation
    Noted. The Government face difficulties in taking immediate actions in a short period of time.
  • State Under Review:

    Republic of Korea

    Republic of Korea
    Regional group
    Asia-Pacific Group
    Source Of Reference:

    Canada

    Canada
    Regional group
    WEOG
    Political group
    OAS
    OIF
    Commonwealth
    Issue:
    • HIV and AIDS
    Type:
    Comment
    Session:
    14th session, November 2012
    Status:
    Not Followed up with a Recommendation
    Contents:
    Canada raised concerns about HIV.
  • State Under Review:

    Republic of Korea

    Republic of Korea
    Regional group
    Asia-Pacific Group
    Source Of Reference:

    Iceland

    Iceland
    Regional group
    WEOG
    Issue:
    • Rights of same-sex desiring persons
    Type:
    Recommendation
    Session:
    42nd Session, January 2023
    Status:
    Unclear Response
    Contents:
    Legalize same-sex marriage between consenting adults and legalize adoption by same-sex couples.
    Explanation
    Noted. The Government does not plan to take immediate action since changes in the family institution, such as allowing same-sex marriage or adoption by same-sex couples, hold legal and social significance.


  • State Under Review:

    Republic of Korea

    Republic of Korea
    Regional group
    Asia-Pacific Group
    Source Of Reference:

    Sudan

    Sudan
    Regional group
    Africa Group
    Political group
    AU
    OIC
    AL
    Issue:
    • Violence against women / gender-based violence
    • Women's and / or girls' rights
    Type:
    Recommendation
    Session:
    42nd Session, January 2023
    Status:
    Accepted
    Contents:
    Continue its efforts in ensuring protection for women, girls against all kind of violence, harassment and abuses.
    Explanation
    Already implemented.



  • State Under Review:

    Republic of Korea

    Republic of Korea
    Regional group
    Asia-Pacific Group
    Source Of Reference:

    Nepal

    Nepal
    Regional group
    Asia-Pacific Group
    Issue:
    • Sexual abuse
    • Sexual violence
    Type:
    Recommendation
    Session:
    42nd Session, January 2023
    Status:
    Accepted
    Contents:
    Continue its efforts to address sexual violence and abuse against children.
  • State Under Review:

    Republic of Korea

    Republic of Korea
    Regional group
    Asia-Pacific Group
    Source Of Reference:

    Switzerland

    Switzerland
    Regional group
    WEOG
    Political group
    OIF
    Issue:
    • Gender equality
    Type:
    Recommendation
    Session:
    42nd Session, January 2023
    Status:
    Accepted
    Contents:
    Maintain, even strengthen, the services of the Ministry of Gender Equality and the Family, when they are handed over to the Ministry of Health and Welfare.
  • State Under Review:

    Republic of Korea

    Republic of Korea
    Regional group
    Asia-Pacific Group
    Source Of Reference:

    Namibia

    Namibia
    Regional group
    Africa Group
    Political group
    AU
    Commonwealth
    Issue:
    • International human rights instruments
    Type:
    Recommendation
    Session:
    42nd Session, January 2023
    Status:
    Accepted
    Contents:
    Ratify the OP-CRPD.
  • State Under Review:

    Republic of Korea

    Republic of Korea
    Regional group
    Asia-Pacific Group
    Source Of Reference:

    National Report

    Issue:
    • Gender equality
    Type:
    Review Documentation
    Session:
    2nd session, May 2008
    Status:
    N/A
    Contents:
    In accordance with the recommendations of CEDAW and CERD, a draft Anti-Discrimination Act that prohibits and prevents ungrounded discrimination in all areas of living and provides remedies for damage incurred by unreasonable discrimination was submitted for deliberation before the National Assembly in December 2007 ... [Para 33]
  • State Under Review:

    Republic of Korea

    Republic of Korea
    Regional group
    Asia-Pacific Group
    Source Of Reference:

    Stakeholder Summary

    Issue:
    • Age of consent
    Type:
    Review Documentation
    Session:
    42nd Session, January 2023
    Status:
    Not Followed up with a Recommendation
    Contents:
    ECLJ noted that the age of consent has been 13. Therefore, if a child over the age of 13 claims having a sexual activity with an adult in a consensual situation there were no clear regulations, and the punishment was up to judges’ discretion. [Para 72]
  • State Under Review:

    Republic of Korea

    Republic of Korea
    Regional group
    Asia-Pacific Group
    Source Of Reference:

    Stakeholder Summary

    Issue:
    • Women's and / or girls' rights
    Type:
    Review Documentation
    Session:
    2nd session, May 2008
    Status:
    Reference Addressed
    Contents:
    ... Recommended amending applicable laws to guarantee foreign women access to legal procedures regardless of legality of their entry into Korea ... [Para 39]
  • State Under Review:

    Republic of Korea

    Republic of Korea
    Regional group
    Asia-Pacific Group
    Source Of Reference:

    Stakeholder Summary

    Issue:
    • Sexual exploitation / slavery
    Type:
    Review Documentation
    Session:
    42nd Session, January 2023
    Status:
    Reference Addressed
    Contents:
    AI recommended that the Government refrain from allowing the invocation of procedural hurdles hampering efforts of comfort-women survivors and their families to obtain full and effective reparation through justice procedures and work with the foreign country and other affected countries to ensure that effective systems are put in place to implement reparation measures for survivors, taking into account their views and needs. [Para 32]
  • State Under Review:

    Republic of Korea

    Republic of Korea
    Regional group
    Asia-Pacific Group
    Source Of Reference:

    UN Compilation

    Issue:
    • International human rights instruments
    Type:
    Review Documentation
    Session:
    42nd Session, January 2023
    Status:
    Reference Addressed
    Contents:
    CEDAW considered that the reservation to article 16 (1) (g) of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women was incompatible with the object and purpose of the Convention and that it should be withdrawn. … [Para 3]
  • State Under Review:

    Republic of Korea

    Republic of Korea
    Regional group
    Asia-Pacific Group
    Source Of Reference:

    Honduras

    Honduras
    Regional group
    GRULAC
    Political group
    OAS
    OEI
    ACS
    Issue:
    • Discrimination based on sexual orientation
    • Discrimination based on gender identity
    Type:
    Recommendation
    Session:
    28th Session November 2017
    Status:
    Unclear Response
    Contents:
    Approve general legislation to combat discrimination, which expressly covers all spheres of life and prohibits discrimination on any ground, particular on grounds of race, sexual orientation and gender identity.
    Explanation
    Noted. The Government has devoted considerable legislative efforts to prohibit discrimination through the Constitution and 90 other legislations. Meanwhile, considering the controversy over the prohibited grounds of discrimination, the enactment of the general anti-discrimination law, which provides general remedial procedure for the victims of discriminatory acts, requires considerable examination and opinion-gathering process to reach public consensus regarding the matter. Furthermore, imposing criminal punishment for discriminatory acts requires a careful review.
  • State Under Review:

    Republic of Korea

    Republic of Korea
    Regional group
    Asia-Pacific Group
    Source Of Reference:

    Canada

    Canada
    Regional group
    WEOG
    Political group
    OAS
    OIF
    Commonwealth
    Issue:
    • Intersex persons' rights
    • Discrimination based on sexual orientation
    • Discrimination based on gender identity
    • Criminal laws on same-sex sexual practices
    • Rights of same-sex desiring persons
    • Transgender persons' rights
    Type:
    Recommendation
    Session:
    28th Session November 2017
    Status:
    Unclear Response
    Contents:
    Protect the rights of LGBTI persons through the adoption of a comprehensive anti-discrimination law that prohibits all forms of discrimination, including based on sexual orientation and gender identity, and abolish Article 92-6 of the Military Criminal Act, which criminalizes consensual same-sex relations.
    Explanation
    Noted. The Government has devoted considerable legislative efforts to prohibit discrimination through the Constitution and 90 other legislations. Meanwhile, considering the controversy over the prohibited grounds of discrimination, the enactment of the general anti-discrimination law, which provides general remedial procedure for the victims of discriminatory acts, requires considerable examination and opinion-gathering process to reach public consensus regarding the matter. Furthermore, imposing criminal punishment for discriminatory acts requires a careful review.
  • State Under Review:

    Republic of Korea

    Republic of Korea
    Regional group
    Asia-Pacific Group
    Source Of Reference:

    Botswana

    Botswana
    Regional group
    Africa Group
    Political group
    AU
    Commonwealth
    Issue:
    • Birth registration
    Type:
    Recommendation
    Session:
    28th Session November 2017
    Status:
    Unclear Response
    Contents:
    Establish a national birth registration system to register all births in Korea irrespective of the nationality of parents.
    Explanation
    Noted. When children of non-citizens are born in the ROK, their parents can register the child’s birth via the embassy of their country of origin. The ROK permits the children of non-citizen parents to be registered as a foreigner and to remain in the ROK when the non-citizen parents are unable to register the child’s birth through the embassy because they are recognized refugees, seeking refugee status, or given humanitarian status, provided that birth certificates issued by hospitals prove the biological relationship between the child and his/her parents.
  • State Under Review:

    Republic of Korea

    Republic of Korea
    Regional group
    Asia-Pacific Group
    Source Of Reference:

    Tunisia

    Tunisia
    Regional group
    Africa Group
    Political group
    AU
    OIC
    AL
    OIF
    Issue:
    • Violence against women / gender-based violence
    • Domestic violence
    Type:
    Recommendation
    Session:
    28th Session November 2017
    Status:
    Accepted
    Contents:
    Continue efforts to eliminate domestic violence.
  • State Under Review:

    Republic of Korea

    Republic of Korea
    Regional group
    Asia-Pacific Group
    Source Of Reference:

    Nicaragua

    Nicaragua
    Regional group
    GRULAC
    Political group
    OAS
    OEI
    ACS
    Issue:
    • Gender equality
    • Women's participation
    Type:
    Recommendation
    Session:
    28th Session November 2017
    Status:
    Accepted
    Contents:
    Continue efforts to promote equality between women and men, by encouraging a balanced representation in decision-making positions, equality in the labour market and in entrepreneurship, including equal pay, among other aspects.
  • State Under Review:

    Republic of Korea

    Republic of Korea
    Regional group
    Asia-Pacific Group
    Source Of Reference:

    Stakeholder Summary

    Issue:
    • Marginalized groups of women
    • Violence against women / gender-based violence
    • Domestic violence
    Type:
    Review Documentation
    Session:
    28th Session November 2017
    Status:
    Neglected
    Contents:
    … APPM noted… Marriage migrants of whom many were women found themselves suffering
    from domestic violence, racial and gender discrimination. [Para 81]
  • State Under Review:

    Republic of Korea

    Republic of Korea
    Regional group
    Asia-Pacific Group
    Source Of Reference:

    UN Compilation

    Issue:
    • Violence against women / gender-based violence
    • Sexual violence
    • Domestic violence
    Type:
    Review Documentation
    Session:
    28th Session November 2017
    Status:
    Reference Addressed
    Contents:
    The Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination noted that migrant women who were subject to domestic and/or sexual violence often did not report such crimes due to fear of losing their legal resident status. [Para 55]