As South Korea joined in celebrating International Women’s Day on Friday, the gender minister pledged efforts to enact laws to ban discrimination based on one’s sex and to secure education on gender equality.

“Gender equality is a key step toward building a solid democracy. … I will join hands with all the people in our society who pursue equality and freedom and walk with them to help them stick to their values in life,” Gender Minister Jin Sun-mee said in her International Women’s Day message released through the media. “Last year, a whirlwind of women’s voices hit the country in the ‘Me Too’ movement and in calls to eradicate spy cams and to abolish the abortion-banning law,” Jin said, referring to the unusually strong feminist appeals made last year.”Now, we need to adjust the (legal) system to bring equality to everyday life and reform our culture and the public awareness (of women’s rights),” she noted.

“To resolve sexual discrimination, the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family will push for the enactment of laws to prohibit sexual discrimination and harassment and to rescue victims,” the minister said. “It will also help spread public awareness and culture regarding gender equality throughout education across the country (so people) can share the values of gender equality,” she added.

The United Nations designated March 8 as International Women’s Day in 1975, and the day has been a focal point in the movement for women’s rights. After approving the Gender Equality Act last year, South Korea designated the day as one of the country’s national memorial events.

(Yonhap)