KUALA LUMPUR - Gyeonggi Province has announced that it will allocate 7.3933 trillion won to 119 human rights initiatives by 2030.

According to The Asia Business Daily, the commitment was unveiled on 10 December during the proclamation of the “Third Basic Plan for the Guarantee and Promotion of Human Rights in Gyeonggi Province” at the Gyeonggi Credit Guarantee Foundation’s main auditorium in Gwanggyo, Suwon.

The event, held in conjunction with the 77th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, outlined the province’s direction for human rights policies over the next five years.

The new blueprint is anchored on four guiding principles – coexistence, equality, respect and inclusion.

The province said the combined budget for the 119 programmes amounts to 7.3993 trillion won.

Under the pillar of “creating an environment for human rights protection by rights holders”, Gyeonggi Province plans to expand shelters for abused children and strengthen tailored care services for vulnerable seniors.

The province will also enhance coordinated response systems for violence against women and domestic abuse.

Support for the employment of persons with disabilities will be widened through general job placement schemes.

Plans include boosting protections for migrants’ human rights as well as operating care and counselling centres for North Korean defectors.

A dedicated support centre will also continue to assist victims of the Seongam Academy incident.

In the area of “creating an inclusive society where basic rights are realised in daily life”, the province will increase support for independent living facilities for persons with disabilities.

Mobile care and medical units will be expanded alongside labour safety guard programmes.

More low-floor buses will be introduced while climate action opportunity income initiatives will be implemented.

To “create a human-rights friendly community”, the province will pursue universal care measures and work to improve the working conditions of childcare teachers.

Bridging the digital gap for information-vulnerable groups and strengthening participatory budgeting for residents are also among the priorities.

The final pillar, “establishing a communication-based human rights administration system”, includes reinforcing the functions of the Gyeonggi Province Human Rights Centre.

The province will also revitalise the Human Rights Academy and enhance the operations of the Human Rights Committee.

Officials said residents’ views were extensively incorporated into the plan through surveys, interviews, roundtable discussions and public hearings.

At the ceremony, Vice-Governor for Economic Affairs Ko Young-in said the province aimed to uphold human rights as a universal benchmark in all administrative processes.

"Gyeonggi Province will make human rights a universal standard throughout provincial administration and do its utmost to ensure that children and adolescents, youth and seniors, women and people with disabilities, migrants and North Korean defectors, and all residents can enjoy dignity and value as human beings.

"We hereby proclaim the launch of the '3rd Basic Plan for the Guarantee and Promotion of Human Rights in Gyeonggi Province,” he said.

The province will draw up annual execution plans, monitor their implementation and continuously address gaps or inconveniences faced by residents.