Center aims to help female immigrants

Protection offered against domestic violence, sex trade

A counseling center aiming to protect female immigrants from domestic violence, sexual abuse, and the sex trade opened on November 9. The center can be reached on its hotline at 1577-1366.

The "Hotline 1366 for Female Immigrants" was established by the Women Migrants Human Rights Center on the request of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family. Fifteen counselors have been hired from six countries, and can speak Mandarin Chinese, Vietnamese, Mongolian, Thai, Russian, and English. Users of this center can receive medical or legal services or consult the police, if needed. They also can receive other help according to the problems they face.

According to a survey conducted last year by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, 14.4 percent of 703 female immigrants that came to South Korea through international marriage said they had not reported domestic violence when it had occurred. Only 8 percent said they had.

The 1366 Center will begin to provide online counseling as soon as its Web site (www.wm1366.or.kr) is up.

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