by Article 21 Network
We, a coalition of civil society organizations, wholeheartedly welcome the introduction of the Anti-Discrimination Act in the 22nd National Assembly. After more than a decade of being stalled, we urge the political leadership to recognize that enacting this legislation is an urgent task of our time that can no longer be delayed. We believe that instead of relying on fragmented and reactionary bans on hate speech, the government must establish a clear and universal “standard of equality” to protect the human rights of all citizens.
We strongly criticize the recent trend of “stop-gap” legislative amendments that seek to curb hate speech through administrative convenience. We argue that without a fundamental law like the Anti-Discrimination Act, any attempt by the state to arbitrarily crack down on expression risks becoming a tool for censorship, particularly against the very minorities the laws should protect. We believe that only by defining the legal boundaries of discrimination and “harm” through this Act can we find a precise balance that curbs hate speech without chilling the broader freedom of expression.
We emphasize that the Anti-Discrimination Act is not intended to be a tool for punishment or silencing individuals, but rather a “Basic Law on Human Rights” that realizes the constitutional spirit of equality. We assert that structural discrimination and hate cannot be solved by simply removing visible signs or banners; they must be addressed by legalizing the values of equality and empowering the voices of the marginalized. We urge the National Assembly to stop hiding behind the excuse of “social consensus” and to take this historic opportunity to elevate South Korean democracy to the next level by enacting the Anti-Discrimination Act immediately.
0 Comments