Page 10 - NKHR Hawaii Conference 2023

SUZANNE VARES-LUM
President, East-West Center, Honolulu

Aloha!

As President of East-West Center, I wish to convey my sincere gratitude and appreciation
to the Chairperson of the Global Strategy Committee of PUAC, Myong Hae Kim;
Consul General Lee Seo Young; and the President of the PUAC Hawaii Chapter, Bong
Ryong Park for inviting the East-West Center to co-host the 2023 North Korean Human
Rights Hawaii Conference.

The East-West Center was established by the United States Congress in 1960 as a
national educational institution to foster better relations and understanding among the
peoples of the United States, Asia, and the Pacific islands. We carry out our mission
through multiple avenues, such as educational scholarship and affiliation programs;
professional development programs to build capacity for academics, journalists, and young
leaders; research into climate change and the environment, regional geopolitics, public
health as well as economics and demographic change.

The East-West Center Washington, DC. office provides our partners with training,
exchange opportunities, and public diplomacy products. Finally, our engagement with our
70,000+ alumni provides incredible networking opportunities.

T is Conference brings together key leaders and experts dedicated to addressing North
Korean human rights issues—providing us the opportunity to shed more light on these
credible reports. T e discussions and insights shared at the Conference promise to carve
new paths forward, contributing to the momentum needed to ef ect positive change.