ELECTION OF HEISOO SHIN TO UN ECOSOC A TRIUMPH FOR WOMEN HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVISTS
Ms. Shin, has been a lifelong advocate of the women’s human rights movement and has substantially contributed to the struggle to end violence against women in the region. A sociologist from the Republic of Korea, Ms. Shin has served as an expert of the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women for 2001-2008, as well as a commissioner of the National Human Rights Commission in Korea for 2005-2008. She is the representative of the National Movement for Eradication of Sex Trafficking as well as adjunct professor at the Graduate School of International Studies at Ewha Womans University. In her many years as a member of APWLD she has been an active and important contributor to our work. On behalf of women across Asia Pacific, we are inspired to see a fellow activist reach an important new level of influence and scope in her work. The next four years will see critical decisions made and formative policies initiated. We look forward to continuing to support Ms. Shin in her role and the potential it holds for the promotion, protection and realisation of women’s human rights. APWLD commends member states of ECOSOC on their selection of an outstanding candidate and applauds their recognition of the importance of having members that are independent and legitimate human rights defenders from civil society. Independent representatives like Ms. Shin are becoming increasingly rare and as such this selection is of particular importance to the legitimacy of the Council. |
