Chairperson Sent Letters to North Korean Defectors in South Korea
The Chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission of Korea, HYUN Byung-Chul, sent letters to North Korean defectors in South Korea in May. The purpose was to inform that the NHRCK provides the reporting procedure on human rights violations against North Korean people through the North Korean Human Rights Documentation Center and Archive.
The following is the complete text of a letter sent by the Chairperson.
Dear Sir/Madam,
“The National Human Rights Commission of Korea Works For You.”
YOU ARE THE FUTURE
I would like to begin by expressing my respect for all of you who escaped a human rights abuse in North Korea and made your way to the Republicof Korea. I seek your understanding for not having a chance to meet all of you in person.
The National Human Rights Commission is an independent national institution with a mission to contribute to the establishment of democratic social foundations and fulfillment of dignity and value of human beings by upholding and promoting fundamental human rights of all individuals.
A significant number of more than 20,000 North Koreans have reached South Koreauntil now, and it is a clear evidence of the deteriorating human rights condition in North Korea besides the food crisis.
You are the one who brings future to our society. Your experience in both Koreas will mark a cornerstone for the coming reunification and lead the liberal democracy while putting human rights as the first priority. In that sense, it is the appropriate time for us to focus on North Korean human rights through your voice. We believe that further negligence of human rights might result in irreversible devastation to 24 million North Korean people under the regime of KIM Jong-il.
As the Chairperson of the NHRCK, I regret that there had not been any official mechanism for you to appeal your human rights abuse cases systematically. However, as of March 15, 2011, we are operating the North Korean Human RightsD ocumentation Center and Archive, as a mean to document the cases of human rights abuse under North Korean regime and conduct investigation in order to improve human rights condition in North Korea.
The North Korean Human Rights Documentation Center and Archive aims to use its cumulative data as a basic tool for several purposes such as the rehabilitation, compensation, and restitution for victims of human rights abuse, social integration after the reunification of the Korean peninsula, prosecution of individuals for crimes against humanity, promotion of human rights education, etc.
Many of you may have experienced human rights abuses such as torture, assault, and mistreatment in North Korea. If those abuse cases remain concealed, however, the North Korean regime will continue its unjustifiable conduct. We understand that it is not easy to recall painful memories, but through your courageous voices, we firmly believe that our work would successfully restrain the North Korean regime from abusing human rights of its own people and may lead to the fundamental changes of North Korea.
Your effort is crucial to prevent the North Korean regime from human rights abuses and to advance the reunification of the Korean Peninsula. Every report and personal information will remain confidential. The NHRCK welcomes your visit and contacts by hotline 1331 at any time, or request our visit with a notice of specific time and location.
The NHRCK is also planning to launch an alternative policy to support your resettlement without discriminations in South Korea. Whenever you face hardship and unfair treatment, please do not hesitate to contact us. The NHRCK is always ready to listen attentively to those in need.
We warmly welcome you and always hope you the best.
Sincerely Yours,
HYUN Byung-Chul
Chairperson, National Human Rights Commission of Korea
