FACTBOX-North Korea's suspected human rights abuses
02 Jul 2009 07:55:42 GMT Source: Reuters
(For related story, please click on [ID:nSEO153938]) SEOUL, July 2 (Reuters) - The following is a list of human rights abuses carried out by North Korea, according to a U.S. State Department report released earlier this year. * Citizens denied freedom of speech, assembly and association. * Use of arbitrary and unlawful killings to instill fear into the masses. * Kidnapping and imprisonment of people without legal explanation. * Severe torture and abuse, including forced abortions and sexual abuse in the case of female prisoners. * Up to 200,000 political prisoners in correctional facilities for political offenses that include damaging pictures of state founder Kim Il-sung and current leader Kim Jong-il. * Random security checks of private homes and communities. * Correspondence and telephone conversations monitored by the government. * Entire families sent to prison for one member's wrongdoings. * Government control over all artistic and academic products. * Police engaging in routine activities to control illegal circulation of foreign media. * Freedom of religion harshly limited to the national belief in Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il are supreme authorities. * Restricted movement within North Korea and prohibition of emigration, for which the punishment can lead to death. * No set rules for refugee protection. * No public access to government information. * Prevalent discrimination of gender and social status. * Government officials receiving bribes to expedite human trafficking, which in many cases North Korean women are forced into prostitution. * Forced labour, including minors. * Additional human rights abuses, including withholding wages and citizens' exposure to hazardous conditions while working abroad for North Korean firms. (Reporting by Christine Kim and Jon Herskovitz; Editing by Jeremy Laurence)
Protesters occupy the open space at the Government Headquarters after a pro-democracy march had ended in Hong Kong July 2, 2009. Wednesday marked the 12th anniversary of the territory's handover to ...
