SEOUL— In a push to enhance conditions at immigration detention centers, South Korea's National Human Rights Commission has advocated for significant improvements, including the provision of interpretation and medical staff.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the findings from a recent series of in-depth surveys conducted by the Commission in October, multiple human rights violations were documented across three detention facilities. The Commission discovered that during investigations, the supervisors often failed to provide detainees with adequate information regarding their identity and the reasons for their detention.
The rights watchdog has made several recommendations to the Ministry of Justice. It emphasized the necessity for detainees to be informed in languages they understand and for all documents, including protection orders and evaluation results, to be translated. The Commission also highlighted the need for state coverage of outside medical treatment costs and the installation of necessary medical equipment within the facilities. Furthermore, it proposed additional measures to improve communication between detainees and the outside world, such as allowing the use of personal cell phones and providing interpretation services during visiting hours, to ensure that detainees' rights are fully respected.