Page 19 - NKHR Hawaii Conference 2023

KEYNOTE SPEECHES

AMBASSADOR JULIE TURNER
United States Special Envoy for North Korean Human Rights

Good afternoon, everyone. I would like to extend my thanks to the Peaceful Unif cation
Advisory Council (PUAC) Global Strategy Committee Chairperson Annie Chan, the
PUAC Hawaii Chapter, One Korea Network Director Henry Song, the East-West
Center, and the Consul General of the Republic of Korea in Honolulu for organizing and
hosting this important event. It’s an honor to be among such a distinguished group of
speakers and guests. And it is energizing to see such a large gathering of people who share
the common goal of promoting respect for human rights and the dignity of the North
Korean people. It is also encouraging to see such diversity in today’s audience, including
so many young people.

We’re gathered in this room six days before International Human Rights Day when
people around the world will celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration
of Human Rights (UDHR)—a document that is both literally and figuratively the
cornerstone of the United Nations. When the original cornerstone of the UN site was
laid by the very f rst Secretary General of the UN that cornerstone contained a copy of
the UDHR.

While we are celebrating fundamental freedoms and universal rights, we must also
take time to reflect upon the human rights situation in the DPRK—one of the most
protracted human rights crises in the world.

2024 will mark the 10th anniversary of the release of the groundbreaking report by the
UN Commission of Inquiry (COI) on Human Rights in the DPRK. It also marks 20
years since the creation of the mandate of the UN Special Rapporteur on North Korean
human rights, and 20 years since the passage of the US North Korea Human Rights Act.

T e freedoms that we in the US and our close allies in the Republic of Korea hold so dear
still seem like a distant goal for the people of North Korea. T e COVID-19 pandemic
allowed the DPRK to tighten controls in what was already one of the most repressive
environments in the world.

Three new laws were passed increasing penalties for seemingly benign activities such
as watching K-dramas or using South Korean slang. Restrictions on movement were
tightened, closing many avenues used to seek relief from hunger and abuse. While the
government focuses its resources on developing its weapons program the people continue

NORTH KOREAN HUMAN RIGHTS HAWAII CONFERENCE 2023 19