Congressman Kim Ye-ji proposes the bill on special cases of abuse of persons with disabilities
Nov 21, 2024
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Representative Kim on the 21st proposed the enactment of the Special Act on the Punishment of Abuse Crimes for Persons with Disabilities (the Act on Special Cases of Abuse for Persons with Disabilities below), which calls for a thorough investigation and severe punishment of crimes against persons with disabilities.
According to lawmaker Kim's office, the number of cases of abuse of the disabled recently increased by 20% from the previous year. According to the 2023 Disability Abuse Status Report (Ministry of Health and Welfare), 5,497 cases of abuse were reported to defense agencies for the rights of the disabled, up 10.9% year-on-year, and 1,418 cases were diagnosed with abuse, up 19.6% year-on-year.
Rep. Kim, who has been passionate about legislating the law since the 21st National Assembly, raised awareness about the crime of abuse of the disabled, pointed out that "it is also a problem that the perpetrators of abuse of the disabled are punished with soft punishment. A while ago, a YouTuber was accused of emotionally abusing the disabled on an online platform, but it was confirmed that a summary order of 2 million won was issued."
The current Welfare of Disabled Persons Act is only a declarative clause and cannot expect appropriate punishment corresponding to its seriousness, Representative Kim Ye-ji proposed a bill to enact the Special Act on Abuse of Disabled Persons, which specifically specifies acts that correspond to abuse of disabled persons to promote the effectiveness of punishment, and to ensure the human rights of disabled persons by the Ministry of Justice in charge of thorough investigation and severe criminal punishment.
Rep. Kim said, `Seven out of 10 people with disabilities affected by abuse need adequate support and assistance for expressing their opinions,' adding, `In 2012, the Act on Welfare of Persons with Disabilities established an 'assistance system', but it became a private culture.' The Act on Special Cases of Abuse of Persons with Disabilities stipulates a private culture of assistance system, and stipulates that persons with disabilities affected by abuse can receive realistic support in judicial proceedings such as lawyers and statement assistants" he said.
The bill also stipulates punishment for the trafficking of people with disabilities aiming at the specificity and vulnerability of the disabled, such as sexual exploitation and salt slavery of women with intellectual disabilities, and established a special provision that allows the accuser to file an objection even if the police do not transmit it.
Rep. Kim Ye-ji clarified the purpose of the legislation, saying, `Although the number of cases of abuse of persons with disabilities is increasing, our society still lacks awareness of abuse of persons with disabilities.' `We reorganized the bill on special cases of abuse of persons with disabilities proposed in the 21st period and proposed it again with the opinions of various related agencies and parties.' Representative Kim expressed his will to enact a special law to improve the limitations of existing laws and regulations by promoting the effectiveness of punishment for abuse crimes against persons with disabilities, and to ensure that the Ministry of Justice is in charge of thorough investigation into abuse of persons with disabilities and severe criminal punishment so that there are no more persons with disabilities affected by unfair abuse.
Reporter Jeon Young-ji, sky4us@sportschosun.com .
sky4us@sportschosun.com
