The
Citizens' Alliance for North Korean Human Rights, Conectas Direitos
Humanos and Human Rights Watch would like to cordially invite you to the
11th International Conference on North Korean Human Rights and Refugees
in Geneva, Switzerland, which will take place on November 23, 2011 from 9:30-13:30 (including lunch reception) at the Chateau de Penthes, 19 Chemin de l'Imperatrice, 1292 Pregny/Chambesy.
Our
Conference will feature compelling victim testimonies and leave ample
time for conversation. The focus of the first session will be North
Korea’s political prison camp system, and a survivor who spent 28 years
in the camp will speak. The second session will feature presentations
regarding the abductions of South Koreans by the North Korean
government.
We
are aware that improving human rights conditions in North Korea is a
daunting task. However, with the support of the UN and the international
community, our conference can be
a key step toward improvements in the lives and liberties of the North
Korean people. Your participation would help promote and discuss this
urgent cause and we thank you for your kind consideration of our
invitation.
Sincerely,
Benjamin H. Yoon Mara Arizaga Philippe Dam
Founder & Chairman Geneva Representative Geneva Director
Citizens’ Alliance for Conectas Human Rights Watch
North Korean Human Rights
PRELIMINARY AGENDA
Language of proceedings: English/Korean
November 23, 2011
Coffee, tea & breakfast snacks will be served before the Conference (Salle des Cent-Suisses)
09:00 Sign-in for Participants (Salle Le Fort, Château de Penthes)
09:30 – 10:00 Opening Session (Salle Le Fort, Château de Penthes)
Conference Moderator: Jae-chun Won, Professor, Handong Univ. International Law School, ROK
Welcome Address
Benjamin H. Yoon, Chairman, Citizens’ Alliance for North Korean Human Rights
Mara Arizaga, Geneva Representative , Conectas Direitos Humanos
Philippe Dam, Geneva Director (Acting), Human Rights Watch
Welcome Remarks
Changkeun Yeh, Vice Governor of Gyeonggi Province, ROK
10:00 - 11:15 Session I: Forgotten Lives: Political Prison Camps in
North Korea
10:00 – 10:15 Political Prison Colonies in North Korea: System and Repercussions,
Man-ho Heo, Professor, Kyungpook National University, ROK
10:15 - 11:15 Conversation with Ms. Hye Sook KIM, Survivor of the Political Prison Camp No. 18 Arrived in South Korea in 2009. Conversation includes a special showing of her illustrations of the camp and a Q&A session.
11:15 – 12:15 Session II: Disappeared for decades: Abductees in North Korea
11:15 – 11:30 South Korean Abductees in the International Context
Jiyoon Cha, Attorney at Law, Just Law International, Jubilee Campaign,
USA
11:30 – 12:15 Conversation
with In Cheol HWANG, son of a passenger on the Korean Air Lines plane
hijacked by North Korea and representative of the Families of KAL
Abductees
Conversation includes a special showing of original film footage and a Q&A session.
12:15 Closing Remarks
12:30 – 13:30 Lunch Reception for Participants (Gallatine, Château de Penthes)
