Today is the Day of Victims of Forced Disappearance... "Urging Legislation to Implement the UN Convention"

Moon Seung-hyun "Urgent Resolution Needed for Abductees, Detainees, and POWs"
Human Rights Groups, Open Letter... "Call for Legislation on Enforced Disappearances"

Moon Seung-hyun, Vice Minister of Unification, emphasized the resolution of the issues concerning abductees, detainees, and prisoners of war on the occasion of the 'International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances' on the 30th, stating, "The international community's solidarity and pressure regarding enforced disappearances will serve as a stern warning to North Korea, which disregards universal human rights."

On the same day, at the international conference for the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances held by the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) Seoul Office at the Korea Press Center in Jung-gu, Seoul, Vice Minister Moon conveyed a congratulatory message read by the Human Rights Policy Officer, stating, "The issues of abductees, detainees, and prisoners of war are humanitarian problems caused by the division of the Korean Peninsula and human rights issues inflicted by North Korea on our citizens."

North Korean defectors waiting for third-country resettlement at Chiang Saen Police Station, Chiang Rai Province, Thailand, May 2007. [Image source=Yonhap News]

He pointed out, "North Korea has committed inhumane crimes by abducting and detaining our citizens for periods ranging from as short as 10 years to several decades," adding, "North Korea has not shown a responsible attitude despite our demands for confirmation of life status and repatriation." He continued, "The Ministry of Unification has established an 'Abductee Task Force' directly under the minister to work towards resolving the issues concerning abductees and others, and aims to pressure North Korea through cooperation with the United Nations and the international community."

Vice Minister Moon stressed, "For the enforced disappearance issue to be practically resolved, it is crucial that the government, civil society, and the international community cooperate and take action with one heart," and added, "The Ministry of Unification will strengthen cooperation on this issue with the OHCHR Seoul Office, the UN Special Rapporteur on North Korean Human Rights, international NGOs, and key countries including the United States."

"Government urgently needs legislation to implement the Enforced Disappearance Prevention Convention"

A scene of the Chinese People's Volunteer Army transporting South Korean prisoners of war during the Korean War. [Image source: book 'The Korean War as They Saw It 1']

In addition, human rights organizations sent an open letter on the same day urging the prompt enactment of domestic laws to implement the 'International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance (Enforced Disappearance Prevention Convention).' The recipient of the letter was Kim Do-eup, Chairman of the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee (People Power Party).

In the letter sent to Chairman Kim Do-eup by 14 human rights organizations including the North Korean Human Rights Citizens' Alliance (NKHR) and the Transitional Justice Working Group (TJWG), as well as Kim Jeong-sam, the brother of missionary Kim Jeong-wook detained in North Korea, it was pointed out that "South Korea joined the Enforced Disappearance Prevention Convention in January this year, but the implementing legislation has not passed the National Assembly." Currently, two bills?the law to protect all persons from enforced disappearance and the law concerning the punishment of enforced disappearance crimes, prevention of enforced disappearance, and relief for victims?are pending in the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee without even being reviewed.

Shin Hee-seok, Legal Analyst at the Transitional Justice Working Group, urged, "We call for the prompt review of these bills by the Legislation and Judiciary Committee," emphasizing, "This is essential for South Korea to effectively fulfill its legal obligations under the UN Enforced Disappearance Prevention Convention." He further stressed, "Above all, it is important for the immediate repatriation of all our citizens, including the remains of deceased persons, from North Korea and for accountability to be realized," adding, "It is also urgent to lead diplomatic efforts in the international community to resolve the issues of prisoners of war, abductees, and detainees."

Song Doo-hwan, Chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission, also issued a statement on the same day urging prompt legislation. Chairperson Song said, "Currently, two bills to implement the Enforced Disappearance Prevention Convention have been proposed in the National Assembly, but it appears that no concrete discussions for legislation are underway," and stated, "The enactment of these laws will contribute to the investigation and punishment of perpetrators of inhumane crimes such as the Brothers' Home incident, issues concerning prisoners of war and abductees, and the detention of past democratic activists, as well as the relief of victims and the prevention of such crimes in the future."

Remembering North Korean Human Rights in Daily Life... "Please Remember Me"

Survivor Kim Hye-sook from Management Office No. 18, who conducted the "Please Remember Me" project, along with young activists,
[Photo provided by the Citizens' Alliance for North Korean Human Rights]

Additionally, to mark the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances, the 'Please Remember Me' campaign is being conducted to raise awareness of the importance of North Korean human rights issues in everyday life. The North Korean Human Rights Citizens' Alliance announced that it has started a fundraising campaign by producing items depicting the childhoods of survivors Kim Hye-sook and Kang Cheol-hwan, who lived through North Korea's political prison camps.

The campaign, running from today until October 27 through 'Wadiz,' is designed to encourage more people to remember North Korean human rights issues and participate in resolving them through everyday items such as bags, erasers, and phone grip-toks. All funds raised will be used for in-depth research and investigation of political prison camp issues and human rights advocacy activities.

Engie Wanitt, a young activist from Poland who participated in preparing the campaign, said, "Through this project, I learned that countless North Korean children are subjected to the application of the guilt-by-association system and face harsh realities such as life in prison camps and forced labor in coal mines," expressing, "I sincerely hope that this tragedy and ongoing suffering will be improved as soon as possible."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.