December 7, 2006

Congressman Pitts Hails Report on North Korean Humanitarian Crisis 

Washington— Congressman Joe Pitts (R, PA-16) today hailed the release of a report by the U.S. Committee for Human Rights in North Korea on the growing humanitarian crisis in North Korea.  The report details the extent of the crisis faced by the North Korean people as well as the response by the international community.  Congressman Pitts has been a member of the Committee’s Advisory Council since its formation in October of 2001.

“Those living in freedom throughout the world have a duty to stand up and fight for the basic human rights of those living under terrible oppression,” Congressman Pitts said.  “Millions of North Koreans live under such oppression every single day, and this report provides a sobering account of the injustices they are forced to endure.  It is a wake-up call to the international community and a must-read for anyone with an interest in doing something to improve the grim situation facing the entire North Korean population, particularly North Korean refugees.”

Key observations from the report include:

• China should uphold its international obligations toward refugees (pg. 74).
• South Korea should not reduce assistance to refugees (pg. 75)
• The United States Department of State should task a specific office with implementing North Korean refugee resettlement (pg. 76).
• UNHCR should increase engagement with the Chinese government in order to obtain access to the border region with North Korea (pg. 76).

The Committee’s full report, entitled “The North Korean Refugee Crisis: Human Rights and the International Response,” can be found online at its website: http://www.hrnk.org/

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