Improvement of the Working Environment for Female Soldiers in GOP is Urgent

The National Human Rights Commission of Korea (NHRC) has presented a recommendation to the Minister of National Defense to improve the poor working conditions of female soldiers in the Army's General Outposts (GOP).

The NHRC has determined that the establishment of essential facilities for female soldiers is urgently needed for the improvement of basic working conditions.

According to the NHRC on the 9th, the Military Human Rights Protection Committee conducted an investigation into the human rights situation regarding the working conditions of female soldiers at a total of 25 Army units from June to November of last year.

This investigation was conducted through various methods, including site visits, surveys, and interviews, and it revealed that female soldiers are working in an environment that lacks even the most basic facilities.

Female soldiers are working in an environment that lacks even the most basic facilities.

Lack of Essential Facilities for Female Soldiers and Safety Issues

Based on the results of the investigation, the Military Human Rights Protection Committee concluded that it is necessary to establish essential facilities for female soldiers, promote safety in living environments, ensure the privacy and rest conditions of female team leaders, diversify the specifications of training equipment, and develop distribution plans.

According to current regulations, "essential facilities for female soldiers" must be installed in units of the size of an independent platoon (outpost) or larger, and must include a restroom, changing space, curtain barriers, security bars, and electronic access locks (door locks). However, the NHRC's investigation found that some units had no essential facilities for female soldiers at all, even in newly constructed buildings.

In fact, some facilities were found to have been installed as separate container units outside.

Various Problems Identified

What is even more serious is that female soldiers are required to share restrooms with external cooks, among other situations. Moreover, cases of insufficient toilet stalls and lack of security bars and door locks were also identified.

These issues are serious threats to the safety and privacy of female soldiers.

Additionally, the problems of excessive exposure of female team leaders' workspaces and the provision of training equipment unsuitable for female body shapes were also raised.

The NHRC stated, "We confirmed the poor conditions of the facilities," and pointed out that "there is a need for improvement according to relevant regulations."

The Ministry of National Defense is expected to establish and implement a specific plan to improve the working environment for female soldiers in GOP based on the NHRC's recommendations.

With the increasing number of female soldiers, improving basic working conditions is an important issue that directly correlates with enhancing the overall combat readiness of the military.

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