The National Human Rights Commission of Korea (NHRCK) and the Korea University jointly held the Seoul International Symposium on North Korea Human Rights at the Centennial Memorial Hall of the Korea University on April 30 2013.
The NHRCK has been hosting the International Symposium annually to improve the human rights situation in North Korea since 2004. This year’s symposiu
m was especially timely and meaningful considering recent developments concerning North Korea human rights such as the United Nations Human Rights Council’s adoption of the resolution to establish the Commission of Inquiry on North Korea and a leadership change in major countries including the United States, Japan, China as well as Korea. The symposium’s main purpose was to learn the perception and policies of different countries toward North Korea human rights.
The event began with the opening remarks by NHRCK’s Chairperson Hyun Byung-chul followed by the welcoming address by President Kim Byung-chul of the Korea University and the congratulatory speeches by Lawmaker Cho Myung-chul, Ambassador and President of the World Federation of United Nations Association Park Su-gil and Former Minister of Foreign Affairs Han Sung-joo. Professor Yoon Nam-geun, Chair of the Special Committee for North Korea Human Rights at the NHRCK and Suzanne Scholte, President of the Defense Forum delivered a keynote speech. Also, two North Korean defectors made testimonies on human rights violations and conditions in North Korea.
The NHRCK believes that the symposium contributed to building a broader international consensus on the urgency to enhance human rights of North Korean people and exploring roles of the international community toward this end.
