Inescapable violence

책 소개

Children&#039s rights have gained universal recognition since the adoption of the 1989 Convention on the Rights of the Child (hereinafter CRC). The CRC is the most widely ratified international convention with 196 State Parties. North Korea signed and ratified the treaty in 1990. Despite this, the 2014 United Nations Commission of Inquiry (hereinafter COI) report concluded that North Korea commits rampant human rights violations. In fact, North Korea is recognized by many amongst the international community as the country committing the most appalling human rights violations. Inside North Korea, children are one of the groups most vulnerable to human rights abuses, as they suffer from systematic exploitation and neglect from the government. However, there is no official statistical data on child abuse in North Korea, as they do not use the words “child” and “abuse” together, and there is no real concept of child abuse. Violence and neglect of children is simply seen as an inevitable part of life, and not something that should be dealt with systematically.Thus, PSCORE&#039s mission is to advocate for North Korean human rights. One of the ways PSCORE achieves its mission is through the research and writing of reports related to various human rights topics. For example, PSCORE&#039s previous reports on the education system and child labor in North Korea have brought awareness of these issues in a way that has never been done by any other state or human rights organizations. The reports have been praised by many defectors for explaining the dire situation in North Korea.This report specifically raises awareness of the plight of North Korean children. The report will show how child abuse in North Korea is a result of inadequate governmental policies and inaction. In addition, the report will propose ways in which the international community can work together to improve the future of North Koreans.The World Health Organization (hereinafter WHO) has extensively researched on child maltreatment, it defines as “the abuse [...] that occurs to children under 18 years of age.” Furthermore, the WHO defines child abuse as:“All forms of physical and/or emotional ill-treatment, sexual abuse, neglect or negligent treatment or commercial or other exploitation, resulting in actual or potential harm to the child&#039s health, survival, development or dignity in the context of a relationship of responsibility, trust or power.”The WHO emphasizes the dire consequences for children that can result from maltreatment. In addition to physical injury, the psychological and psychiatric consequences of child abuse can have long-term impacts on children&#039s neurological, cognitive, and emotional development. As such, the States Parties to the CRC are legally bound to protect children from such abuse. Despite this, in North Korea the concept of child abuse and its consequences are unknown and ignored.“There is a saying in North Korea that &#039children are the country&#039s kings&#039. Therefore, they don&#039t put the words &#039child&#039 together with &#039abuse&#039 in the same expression(It would be a contradiction of terms). [...] They don&#039t use the expression ‘child abuse’”- Han So-Young (20/02/2019, Han So-Young, interviewed by Nam Bada and Kim So-Young)“There is no concept of child abuse.”- Park Chang-Shik (21/03/2018, Park Chang-Shik interviewed by Nam Bada)PSCORE seeks to unveil the reality of child abuse in North Korea by compiling testimonies given directly by North Korean defectors. In doing so, PSCORE aims to give the defectors a platform where they can share their story. With the publishing of this report, we hope to improve the lives of North Korean children in the long run. We hope that moving forward, North Korean children will see improvements in their ability to be protected from abuse, to develop harmoniously, and to enjoy a healthy childhood.

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