The National Human Rights Commission of Korea (NHRCK) held a symposium on the human rights of North Korean defectors residing overseas in an international conference room in the headquarters of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) on Friday, November 7, 2007.
Chairperson Ahn Kyong-Whan of the Commission set the tone for the conference in his opening speech, in which he said it would become a venue for the exchange of a broad range of opinions in the interest of exploring ways to promote the human rights of North Korean defectors overseas with a focus on two subjects: the international community's stand on overseas North Korean migrants and the human rights of female and juvenile North Korean migrants.
Former Minister of Unification Jeong Se-Hyun, who delivered a keynote presentation, emphasized that the North Korean human rights issue should not be relegated to empty ideological talk or be exploited as a political pressure tool. Rather, a viable approach should be taken that takes into consideration the reality in North Korea and the uniqueness of South-North relations. He also underlined the importance of consistently upholding universal norms concerning human rights in the process.
Representative of the Seoul UNHCR Office Janice Lyn Marshall and Vice President of Hankuk University of Foreign Studies Lee Jang-Hie both suggested that North Korean defectors residing in China be granted refugee status based on international law, including the United Nations Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees, and highlighted the significance of China’s active role to resolve the issue.
Yanbian University Professor Kim Gang-Il and Liaoning Social Science Academy Professor Kim Cheol, who were among the presenters, stressed that the Chinese government has been approaching the issue based on domestic and international laws and humanitarianism. The two presenters explained the limitations of a narrow-sighted approach that relies heavily on international law without careful consideration of the issue, including the causes, status and other international relations involved.
The University of North Korean Studies Professor Lee Wu-Yeong emphasized his opinion that only China holds the authority in the issue of North Korean defectors living within Chinese territory, and that only China that can resolve the issue. This view would limit the authority and obligation of other nations or groups in resolving the issue. Professor Lee stated that in order to resolve the issue of North Korean defectors in China, the Chinese government should take specific action, and other international organizations and bodies should develop ways to encourage it to do so.
The symposium revealed differences in perceptions of the issue among different nations, international organizations and NGOs, and the desperate need to overcome such discrepancies.
Including the aforementioned presenters, the symposium was attended by a number of scholars and experts on North Korea and North Korean human rights from universities, international organizations, and NGOs at home and abroad. Among these were Liaoning Social Science Academy Professor Yu Hyo-Nam; Mr. Damdinjav, who is in charge of international cooperation at the Mongolian Ministry of Education, Culture and Science; political counselors from the US and UK embassies; Executive Director of the US Committee for Human Rights in North Korea Peter Beck; Mr. Rajiv Narayan, an East Asia researcher at Amnesty International; Ms. Norma Kang Muico, a researcher with Anti-Slavery International; Ewha Woman’s University Professor Choi Dae-Seok; Kyungnam University Professor Kim Keun-Sik; Dongguk University Professor Kim Yong-Hyun; Choong-Ang University Professor Jhe Seong-Ho; Ms. Im Sun-hui and Mr. Kim Su-Am, senior researchers with the Korea Institute of National Unification; and Handong Global University Professors Won Jae-Chun and Tarik Radwan.
Individuals interested in North Korean human rights, including representatives from NGOs, experts, and sateomin (North Korean defectors that became South Korean citizens) filled over 100 seats and stayed to the end of all three sessions, perhaps a testament to what a resounding success the symposium was.
The National Human Rights Commission of Korea was established in 2001, offering investigation and remedy services for Korean citizens and foreigners residing in Korea against human rights violations and discrimination. The Commission provides policy recommendations and remedial action against human rights infringements, collaborates with international human rights organizations and implements educational programs to improve the human rights culture.
