1.      The Government of the Republic of Korea will host the Seminar on Good Governance Practices for the 
Promotion of Human Rights, in cooperation with the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights 
and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade from 
September 15 to 16, 2004.

2.      The seminar will be represented by about 150 figures in human rights-related fields from numerous 
countries and their national human rights bodies, international organizations, and international NGOs, 
including UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Louise Arbour; Minister of Foreign Affairs of Peru, M. 
Rodriguez Cuadros (as an expert); Minister for Primary Education of Uganda, N. Bitamazire (as a penalist); 
and former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, Surin Pitsuwan (as a keynote speaker).  Professor Vitit 
Muntarbhorn of Thailand, who has been also recently appointed as the Special Rapporteur for Human 
Rights in North Korea, will act as the Oral Rapporteur of the Seminar.  The Chairperson of the Seminar will 
be Deputy Minister for Policy Planning and International Organizations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and 
Trade, Lee Sun-jin.

3.      This seminar, which will be convened according to the resolution of the UN Commission on Human 
Rights last year, will be organized in two days with 4 panels, two consecutive panels each day: presentation 
of best practices for "Promotion of the rule of law,“ ”Strengthening the delivery of services contributing to the 
realization of human rights,“ ”Strengthening democratic institutions and participation,“ and "Combating 
corruption in the public and private sectors”, followed by discussions of the panel expert and the entire 
participants.  The outcomes of the seminar will be reported to the 61st Session of the UN Commission on 
Human Rights, which is scheduled for March next year.

4.      The upcoming seminar is aimed at fostering general discussions on good governance practices, with 
practical approaches through the introduction of actual exemplary cases and discussions.  It is particularly 
meaningful that two important issues, good governance and human rights, will be dealt with together.

5.      As the host of the seminar, the ROK government plans to not only lead the discussions, but also 
endeavor to make the outcomes of discussions widely spread and continued throughout the international 
arena, so that this seminar could establish itself as a watershed of discussions on human rights and good 
governance.  In addition, the ROK government is expected to contribute to the international promotional 
activities for human rights, uplift its status in the international discussions on human rights such as the UN, 
and raise public awareness of the human rights issue in the ROK.

                                                                   Spokesperson of MOFAT

* unofficial translation