Protection of Rights of Mongolian Children in Korea under Attention of Korean Parliament

The Chairman of the State Great Khural of Mongolia G. Zandanshatar, Minister of Labor and Social Protection MP Kh. Bulgantuya, Minister of Mongolia, Chairman of the National Committee for Olympics, Public Physical Education and Sports MP B. Bat-Erdene visited yesterday the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea and participated in the discussion "Health and social welfare of children of foreigners in the Republic of Korea and solution of problems."

The discussion initiated by the Sub-committee on Protection of Children's Rights under the Vice-Chairman of the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea is being held for the third time. Members of the standing committees and representatives of governmental and non-governmental organizations took part in the discussion.

The Vice-Chairman of the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea Mrs. Kim Young-joo opened the discussion by saying, “It is an honor for us that the delegation led by the Chairman of the State Great Khural of Mongolia is participating in today's event as an honored guest. Members of the National Assembly voluntarily participate in organizing any discussion, and I would like to thank the members of the Standing Committees on Security and Social Affairs for attending today's event. The purpose of the discussion is to simplify an issue of providing social and health care assistance to foreigners living and working in South Korea, including the children of Mongolian citizens, and to reform the legal regulations. Considerable percentage of foreigners working in Korea have overstayed their right of residence. As a result, children's rights to access school, kindergarten, and other social and health care services are reduced. Therefore, I initiated establishing a Sub-committee on the Protection of Children's Rights in the National Assembly and making amendments to the Child Protection Law. To comprehensively solve these issues, we are working to make amendments to other laws and regulations.” In his address to the participants of the discussion, the Chairman of the State Great Khural G. Zandanshatar said, “I learned about holding a regular discussion on the issue of protecting the rights of foreigners living in South Korea, in it of Mongolian children, yesterday when meeting the Vice-Chairman of the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea Mrs. Kim Young-joo. We consider it an honor to participate in the discussion to protect Mongolian children's rights. I would like to express sincere gratitude on behalf of the State Great Khural of Mongolia and myself, to the Vice-Chairman of the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea Mrs. Kim Young-joo, who has established a Sub-committee on the Protection of Children's Rights and non-discrimination on the basis of ethnic origin and is taking the lead in drafting amendments to the Law on the Rights of the Child."

The Speaker continued, “There are educational institutions in both our countries which provide education to the children of our citizens. Young people constitute 60 percent of Mongolia's population, one-third of whom are children. Therefore, solving youth employment and social problems is a priority for us. The State Great Khural of Mongolia approved a law to amend the Constitution and increase the number of parliamentarians by 40 percent in order to strengthen parliamentary democracy. Therefore, we are working to update our activities by studying the rules of parliamentary sessions of foreign countries, the principles of debate, and the process of parliamentary inspection. I would like to thank all of you for giving me today the opportunity to participate in the debate of the Parliament of the Republic of Korea.”

In the run of the discussion, the members of the National Assembly expressed their common opinion that the issue of protecting children's rights should be included in the Constitution and the legal regulation of foreigners should be updated as soon as possible. Estimates suggest that there are approximately 56,000 Mongolian citizens in South Korea.