• North Korea: Letter to Republic of Korea Political Leaders
    Letter
    Dec 12, 2011

    On the eve of the 63rd anniversary of the passage of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, we are writing to express to you our deep concern for the ongoing human rights abuses suffered by the people of North Korea, and the lack of action by the Republic of Korea’s National Assembly to address these conditions.

  • US: Promote Global Financial Transparency at G20 Summit
    Press release
    Nov 8, 2010
    The United States should press for greater transparency and accountability in the global financial system at the G20 Summit meeting in Seoul, a coalition of civil society organizations said today. The G20 Advocacy Coalition brings together varied organizations that share the view that increased transparency is essential to promoting economic development, alleviating poverty, and realizing enjoyment of economic and social rights.
  • South Korea: Abolish or Fix National Security Law
    Commentary
    Sep 17, 2010
    A sense of deja vu emanated from recent South-North border events: another imprisoned American left the North with a former U.S. president, and another South Korean was arrested upon return from the North for violating the National Security Law.
  • From a North Korean Hell to Home
    Commentary
    Aug 27, 2010
    In most countries, the typical penalty for an immigration offense like illegal entry is arrest, short-term detention and ultimately deportation, sometimes accompanied by a fine. But in North Korea, the penalty can be a lengthy prison term and a huge fine.
  • Humiliation, the North Korean way
    Commentary
    Aug 26, 2010
    What do athletes do after a humiliating defeat? Say, a 7-0 loss in a football match broadcast on national television?
  • UNESCO honors Africa’s Kim Jong-il
    Commentary
    May 17, 2010
    Imagine if the United Nations took money from Kim Jong-il and established a human rights award in his honor. No doubt many member states would be up in arms protesting such an outright mockery of the words “human rights.”
  • HIV Travel Bans: Small Steps, Big Gaps
    Commentary
    Jan 11, 2010
    The start of the New Year brought the news that the United States and South Korea had ended their travel bans against visitors living with HIV/AIDS. So surely we are celebrating the progress in these two countries, right? Not entirely.
  • South Korea: Raise Human Rights in Talks with North Korea
    Press release
    Dec 1, 2009
    The South Korean government should maintain its principled stance and consistently include a strong human rights agenda in all future dealings with North Korea, Human Rights Watch and three other nongovernmental organizations said today in a letter to the South Korean unification minister, Hyun In-taek.
  • Joint Letter to South Korean Government Regarding South Korean Policies on North Korean Human Rights and Refugees
    Letter
    Dec 1, 2009

    In a joint letter, Human Rights Watch, Citizens' Alliance for North Korean Human Rights, Life Funds for North Korean Refugees, and the Society to Help Returnees to North Korea urge the South Korean government to make human rights a central priority in all dealings with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea) and to maintain a solid and principled stance on rights issues, irrespective of the state of inter-Korea relations.

  • Deporting HIV-Positive Migrants Threatens Lives, Global Goals
    Press release
    Sep 23, 2009
    National governments, in cooperation with international agencies and donors, should reconsider deportation policies for people living with HIV/AIDS.