성평등부, 개정 형소법 관련 여성폭력 피해자 권리 보호 방안 논의…현장전문가 등 참석

On October 20th, discussions took place regarding the protection of rights for victims of gender-based violence in the context of the revised Criminal Procedure Act, which includes the potential removal of prosecutor's authority. The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, under the leadership of Gender Equality and Family, held a meeting on this matter at the Government Complex in Seoul on the 19th.

A handful of experts participated in the meeting, including representatives from organizations supporting victims of gender-based violence and legal experts. The meeting aimed to discuss the necessary measures to be taken to ensure the protection of these victims and improve the support system for them under the revised Criminal Procedure Act.

The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family currently operates a free legal aid program for victims of gender-based violence and provides counseling and protective facilities in connection with these cases. During the meeting, it was reported that there was a need for guidance on how to handle situations where the perpetrator becomes the victim in a domestic violence case, as well as how to deal with cases where the victim becomes the perpetrator.

One participant pointed out that there is a need for clear guidelines on how to proceed in cases where the truth of the incident is not properly documented by the police, as this leaves the victim without any information about the cause of the incident. Another participant mentioned that there could be a need to expand the budget for the free legal aid program for victims of gender-based violence as more victims might seek legal representation from a lawyer during the criminal procedure.

The Ministry's decision on this issue could be significant in the upcoming legislative process for the revised Criminal Procedure Act.