What Will Kim Jong-il's Death Mean for Human Rights in North Korea?
It's been two days since North Korean leader Kim Jong-il passed away, and the world is reacting with a mix of fear and hope. Some are afraid nothing will change or the economic and political situation will get worse, especially since the Kim family will continue its rule. Kim Il-Sung, Kim Jong-il 's father, was in power from 1948 to 1994, and Kim Jong-il's son is said to be his father's successor.
Kenneth Roth, the executive director of Human Rights Watch calls North Korea under Kim Jong-il "a human rights hell on earth.” For the last 17 years, Kim Jong-il's people have suffered from dire poverty. They don't have access to an adequate food supply or healthcare, they can't leave the country without official permission, they have no freedom of expression, and hundreds of thousands are unjustly detained in prison camps.
Roth says, Kim Jong-il "ruled through fear generated by systematic and pervasive human rights abuses, including arbitrary executions, torture, forced labor and strict limits on freedom of speech and association.”
Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International—two of the world's most influential human rights organizations—urge the North Korean authorities, governments and citizens across the world to fight for the people of North Korea during this time of transition.
Amnesty's call to action asks that North Korean authorities and the new leader:
Immediately and unconditionally release all prisoners of conscience, including family members, held in all political prison camps.
Act immediately to stop forced labour, torture and other ill-treatment of prisoners including those held in all political prisons camps.
Grant immediate and unfettered access to international humanitarian agencies such as the UN World Food Programme to ensure that food reaches those most in need.
Address severe shortages in the healthcare system including through accepting international humanitarian assistance and providing full cooperation and access to ensure that care reaches those most in need.
This may be a far cry from what will happen in North Korea in the near future. However, a good start, Kenneth Roth says, is for the international community to press North Korea "to comply with human rights demands contained in the latest UN General Assembly resolution on North Korea, and allow the UN special rapporteur on the situation of human rights in North Korea to visit the country.”
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