On March 8, International Women’s Day, the call to protect the human rights of women in North Korea is getting public attention. N. Korean women, especially those residing abroad, are exposed to various risks including the threat of forced repatriation, human trafficking, and sexual violence call for international attention.
The Embassy of Canada in collaboration with DailyNK, EUM, and THINK, held an event to discuss North Korean women’s human rights on Mar. 8.
Attendees included Tamara Mawhinney, the Ambassador of Canada to South Korea, Kang Jong-Suk, Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Unification, and Lee Shin-wha, Ambassador-at-large for International Cooperation on North Korean Human Rights.
Ambassador Mawhinney expressed her pleasure in discussing women’s rights on International Women’s Day but emphasized the need to improve the dire situation of North Korean women, calling for sustained international attention. The Canadian Embassy will put significant effort into supporting North Korean women, she said.
Deputy Minister Kang highlighted the importance of raising awareness about the current situation for the enhancement of N. Korean women’s rights.
According to Kang, North Korean women face many disadvantages simply for being women, including being forced to give up on higher education, and are not protected from ongoing violence by the state.
“Of the 196 North Koreans who defected last year, 80 percent were women,” Kang said, promising to help North Korean women who arrived in South Korea settle in well.
Ambassador Lee stressed the need for mechanisms to protect N. Korean women from sexual exploitation, pointing out that despite N. Korea’s public claims of gender equality, the reality is quite different. She called for more efforts from the UN and other organizations concerning North Korean women’s issues, saying that deeply ingrained male chauvinism in North Korea exacerbates gender discrimination in the region.
Lee Sang-yong, director of the North Korea-focused research group DailyNK, stated that “traditionally, the lives of North Korean women are hard,” during a presentation on the status of North Korean women’s human rights. DailyNK investigates conditions inside and outside North Korea with a network of informants.
According to his survey of 30 women, either defectors or those still living in North Korea, none stated that women’s rights are well-protected within North Korea. He also mentioned that few respondents received education on the rights when in North Korea and called for international discussion on ways to improve North Korean women’s human rights.
Lee identified ‘sexual violence’ as one of the most serious issues for North Korean women, claiming they are subject to sexual exploitation in various areas of life, including work and military service. His research found that 73% of 30 North Korean women surveyed said they had been asked to provide sexual entertainment in exchange for promotions or other benefits.
Kim Eun-ju, a researcher at EUM, an institution run by North Korean women, stated that North Korea’s isolationism contribute significantly to violations of women’s rights. The lack of sex education in North Korea has led to distorted sexual norms within the country, which she said urgently needs to be addressed.
Son Moon-kyung, representative of the human rights advocacy group THINK, pointed out that the misguided sex education in North Korea has also negatively formed the sexual attitudes of North Korean men.
International community members have pledged to make significant efforts to improve the human rights of North Korean women.
James Heenan, Representative from the UN OHCHR in Seoul, noted, “Gender inequality is a global issue, but it’s particularly severe in North Korea. I hope everyone here takes an interest and works together with the UN to find solutions.”
