Side Event at the 34th session of UN HRC

Title: Unprotected and Exploited: North Korean Women and Children

Co-host organizations: HRW, PSCORE, CSW, HRWF (Human Rights Without Frontiers), Jubilee Campaign, Yonsei Center for Human Liberty, and ICNK

Date & Time: 14:00-15:30, March 10th

Venue: Room XXVI, Palais des Nations

Background

• In late 2017, there will be reviews on the situation of children and women of North Korea in CRC and CEDAW. Therefore, there is a need to discuss and specify problems of rights for women and children during the UN HRC session

• The situation of labor exploitation and violation of freedoms of thoughts and __EXPRESSION__ could show very well the reality of “systematic, widespread, and gross” human rights violations in North Korea. In that sense, women and children are the most vulnerable group of victims in North Korea.

• At the 34th session of HRC, the report of the Group of Independent Experts will be revealed and therefore there is a need to link the specific human rights violations with mechanisms or approaches to ensure accountability for crimes against humanity. Also, children and women are the most vulnerable group of people in North Korea to crimes against humanity in North Korea.

Purpose of the event:

• To assess the situation in North Korea regarding children’s education and the indoctrination that occurs there.

• To assess the impact of childhood forced labor and exploitation.

• To activate discussion on accountability for crimes against humanity by addressing the human rights issues of children and women.

• To encourage the UN mechanisms such as CRC, CEDAW, SR on contemporary form of slavery, other special procedures to the agendas of rights for children and women in North Korea

Date & Time: 14:00-15:30, March 10th

Venue: Room XXVI