As Klinger warns, “Time is running out for the North Korean people, but too many have already perished as the world turned its back” (Scism). North Korea is in a huge crisis and its citizens need help since they are suffering atrocities similar to the Holocaust (Hong). According to Lee, a North Korean defector, there is no freedom at all (Scism). As well, nights are completely dark due to power outages or shortage of electricity (Scism). Also, spying one another is encouraged and North Korean women can be killed if they get pregnant by a Chinese man (Scism). Yet, there are citizens who do nothing about it since they cannot compare it to any other system ("Kang Chol-hwan"). Consequently, the only way to save them is if the rest of the world …show more content…
does something about it. Human rights in North Korea are currently violated by the government, people have horrible lives because of it, and therefore other countries are trying to stop this. To begin with, most of the human rights are being violated by the Kim Regime. Citizens in North Korea are facing extreme hunger due to the bad strategical decisions that the North Korean government takes. It was reported by the COI (Commission of Inquiry) that some of these decisions include: spending “$300 million on luxury facilities, $644 million on luxury goods, and an estimated $1.3 billion on its missile program” (Enos). Due to this, the urge for food became so crucial that the U.N. (United Nations) World Food Program had to request foreign donors in 2015 (Enos). Thanks to this request, 111 million dollars were collected in contributions (Enos). Nevertheless, the government also minimized the daily food rations since food production stopped in 2014 and a drought in 2015 reduced the generation of rice and cereals by more than 10% ("NORTH KOREA"). Now each person just receives 410 grams to 250 grams of daily food ("NORTH KOREA"). These proves that the government is egocentric and unmindful about the health care of its citizens. Additionally, the right to live is infringed due to the constant public executions. The COI documented that every North Korean have presenced a public execution at least once in their lifetime since they occur throughout the population, not just in prison camps (Enos). There is no estimation for the number of executions but based on what people say, they are frequent (Enos). To make matters worst, human trafficking is common in North Korea. The government persuaded 50,000 to 60,000 individuals to work in industries worldwide with the guarantee that they will receive their wages (LaFon). Yet, to no surprise, the North Korean government keeps their wages which generates about 2.3 billion dollars per year (LaFon). This shows how the government lies to its citizens and just intend to provide themselves with luxuries while the population perishes. These are just some of the many rights that the Kim Regime is denying to its citizens. Secondly, North Koreans face a hideous lifestyle in prison camps, outside prison camps, and even outside North Korea due to the violations of human rights. For example, in prison camps, women suffer a lot from sexual abuse. Since women in prison camps do not have the protection of the North Korean law, they may have been raped or sexually oppressed to gain food from the prison guards, even though sexual interactions are prohibited (Enos). If they found out, one could be punished by being executed or forced to carry out hard labor (Enos). Also, in prison camps, pregnant women are forced to abort their child (Enos). If a women does not aborts it and gives birth in prison, that women is obligated to kill the child herself or be present when prison guards kill it (Enos). These proves how prisoners, especially women, suffer from a terrible life since their rights are being denied. However, prisoners are not the only ones who are mistreated and have to tolerate a horrible life, citizens outside prison camps do too. The North Korean government is so strict that citizens cannot even travel on holidays and have a very heightened surveillance ("Kang Chol-hwan"). As well, according to a report received by Amnesty International, women become prostitutes in order to have money to feed their families (Kumar). This means that food shortage is present for both prisoners and non prisoners. There is practically no difference between being in a prison or leaving outside one. Therefore, many citizens, even prisoners, try to escape to South Korea. Unfortunately, they escape to find out that life outside their country is as hideous as staying in North Korea. North Koreans that arrive to South Korea, seem lost because everything is extremely different and they have never seen anything outside their homeland ("Kang Chol-hwan"). To top that, in South Korea, they have to struggle with discrimination, depression, and being unemployed (Sullivan). Yet, surprisingly, surveys demonstrate that one-third would come back to North Korea if they could (Sullivan) . This shows how North Koreans urgently need help in leaving the country and adapting to new environments. These shocking facts demonstrates that North Koreans have to overcome horrible lifestyles no matter where they go, which means that something impactful must be done to end their misery. Thirdly, other countries are trying their best to help citizens in North Korea. For example, the U.N. High Commissioner opened a field office in Seoul, which have to scrutinize and report everything that happens in concern of human rights in North Korea ("NORTH KOREA"). By observing in a location next to North Korea, it will provide much greater detail of what is happening in that country. Also, by being aware of the violations of the humans rights, they could be reported with greater evidence. Another way the UN is helping, is by publishing reports to blame the North Korean government for all the atrocities they have committed. For example, one of the reports being published was the Report of the Commission of Inquiry on Human Rights in Democratic People's Republic of Korea in 2014 by the United Nations Human Rights Council (Scism). The report talks about the vast amounts of problems and horrors in concern of human rights abuses in North Korea under the power of Kim which proved that the authorities in North Korea are guilty of crimes against humanity (Scism). Thus this is a good way of raising awareness and make the rest of the world knowledgable about what is happening in North Korea, nobody has done much with this information. Overall, the U.N. General Assembly has tried many things like constantly sentencing North Korea with the use of resolutions and referring them to the International Criminal Court. However, institutions make few actions about the issue (Hong). This is a huge mistake, instead these institutes should do otherwise. Like Michael Kirby, Chairman of U.N. Inquiry says, “Now is the time for action. The suffering and tears of the people of North Korea demand action” (Scism). Since the world already knows about the horrible lives North Koreans perish, the world must take better actions towards resolving this issue. Lastly, in North Korea the violation of human rights is present, as a result, citizens have to deal with hideous lives, and therefore other countries try to help them.
Human rights are constantly violated because the government benefits from it. The government forces North Koreans to do labors in other countries in order to keep their wages and maintain the comfy lives that they want. They also, take advantage of women by sexually abusing them. Plus, they use the country’s money for themselves while the rest of the population perishes from food shortages and mistreatment. This cruel and egocentric actions causes citizens to live an inhuman life. Even for those who escape, suffer since they feel disoriented and have difficult times adapting due to the isolation from the rest of the world. Due to the horrible living conditions in North Korea, the U.N. has tried many attempts to overcome the Kim Regime and help North Koreans but have not accomplished it. Gratefully, there is a better approach which is to charge the government for the violations they have committed towards human rights. The International Criminal Court should make the government pay a penalty fee, not necessary with money. They should take away their comfy lives by stopping human trafficking or make them pay through furnitures or food that could be given to the citizens. Human trafficking could be stopped by making deals with countries, like China and Russia, who are near North Korea and who support the Kim Regime. After human trafficking is detained, the U.N. could get closer to North Korea little by little until reaching a point where they could easily help the citizens. If the government never corroborates, the U.N. can help North Koreans escape and trained them so that they can adapt to their new life. In the end, it does not matter what approach the world makes to end this issue as long as some action is taking over. This issue cannot last any longer especially since the world already
knows the kind of conditions North Koreans have to deal with. All what is needed is real initiative and courage to confront the Kim Regime.
Blaine Harden, former national correspondent and writer for the New York Times, delivers an agonizing and heartbreaking story of one man’s extremely conflicted life in a labor camp and an endeavor of escaping this place he grew up in. This man’s name is Shin Dong-hyuk. Together, Blaine Harden and Shin Dong-hyuk tell us the story of this man’s imprisonment and escape into South Korea and eventually, the United States, from North Korea. This biography that takes place from 1982-2011, reports to its readers on what is really going on in “one of the world’s darkest nations” (back cover of the book), that is run under a communist state and totalitarian dictatorship that was lead by Kim Il-sung, Kim Jong-il, and currently lead by Kim-Jong un. In Escape from Camp 14, Shin shows us the adaptation of his life and how one man can truly evolve from an animal, into a real human being.
In “Four Human Rights Myths” Susan Marks discusses several conceptions (or misconceptions according to her) about human rights. She begins her paper with a case study of the 2011 London riots and how distinctively different is their coverage by the British prime minister and two scholars.
"North Korea: Human rights concerns." Amnesty Australia. Amnesty International, 28 Nov. 2006. Web. 2 May 2014. .
1984 demonstrates a dystopian society in Oceania by presenting a relentless dictator, Big Brother, who uses his power to control the minds of his people and to ensure that his power never exhausts. Aspects of 1984 are evidently established in components of society in North Korea. With both of these society’s under a dictator’s rule, there are many similarities that are distinguished between the two. Orwell’s 1984 becomes parallel to the world of dystopia in North Korea by illustrating a nation that remains isolated under an almighty ruler.
(migrationinformation, 2008). Citizens of North Korea do not attain the freedom to leave and experience other states. North Korea’s lack of freedom not only affects their citizens but also individuals from other countries in a negative sense, cutting off social bonds as a result. Not having mobility rights is an infringement on their negative liberty on account of the option of immigrating or emigrating not being available to them due to the laws placed by the government. In actuality, citizens “caught emigrating or helping others cross the border illegally are detained” (migrationinformation, 2008).
No one would ever think that a small country could create a controversy known the world over, but North Korea has achieved this goal. The North Korean genocide has claimed 2000 people a day and these killings are from starvation and beating. Many people think communism is better than democracy, but it has its faults. For example, North Korea is Communist and whatever the leader’s beliefs, the Communist citizen has to believe. What is happening and what happened is genocide.
North Korea could be described as a dystopian society. For all of its citizens, the Internet is widely monitored and restricted, allowing only limited access. “One could speculate that it is more propaganda about the country, its leaders, or negative coverage about the US.... ... middle of paper ... ...
Little is known about North Korea except for news stories concerning international terrorism, nuclear arms threats, and prison camps. From space, North Korea is shrouded in darkness like the history that surrounds this country. This is due to the nation's strict closed-country policy: not many outsiders have visited there and not many North Koreans have traveled to the outside world. While little action can be taken to help the North Korean people, action taken by the United Nations is crucial. Recently, United Nations human rights investigators issued a horrific report documenting massive human rights violations in North Korea. The United Nations feels these crimes of humanity should be brought to the International Criminal Court. UN members work to "promote and encourage respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex, language, or religion” (Youth For Human Rights). North Korea unlike any other country in the world cannot be reported on fully because of regulations on people entering its boundaries.
Climate, conflict, isolation, and corruption culminated in millions of lives lost, surely with no small amount of pain and suffering endured. Though international intervention can only help to the degree that authorities in North Korea will allow it, we are not left entirely without recourse. It is too late now to undo the damage of the North Korean famine, and although power has since changed hands, the country remains famously isolated. If, however, we tell the story as best we can, and deny ourselves the comfort of closing our eyes when faced with such a colossal tragedy, then perhaps in the future we find a solution. Silent are the Koreans who perished, and silent still are the authorities that chose seclusion over security. If we wish to prevent this from happening again, we must not let their silence be our silence as well.
...The only way for the U.S to get any type of peaceful outcome from North Korea is to push for a regime change. However, these tactics would definitely lead to war and in this case I believe that the cost of war definitely outweigh the benefits. Also you have to be mindful of the other actors involved who would have something to lose besides the two involved in war, such as China and South Korea. China would lose a trade partner and would have a large flow of refugees trying to enter their country (as well as the neighboring countries) and South Korea (a U.S ally) would lose lives (soldier and possibly civilians) and as well as the damage to property. The best choice the U.S has at the moment to avoid total destruction, losing lives, and the monetary cost would be to continue to peacefully bargain with North Korea and use as little force as possible to achieve peace.
Everyone is unique in their own way so a society where people are sitting in a room and everyone is wearing the same clothes, same shoes, same hairstyle, and basically the same of everything would never work. A world where everyone has no individuality and no unique personality. It’s like a big robot factory and every robot is built the same way. Similar to a daily life in North Korea. People would think that since there are no differences, people won’t be able to bully each other and there would be no judgements. A world like that means no individuality, no expression, no fun, no talent, no inventions, and no beauty.
Debate on whether human rights are universal or not has been going on since adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights more than six decades ago and is set to go on for as long as different schools of thought on the matter exist.
A contentious issue in current debate is the death penalty and its application in society. The death penalty, also known as capital punishment, occurs when a individual is punished by execution as a consequence of an offence they committed (Taylor, 2014). Although Australia does not practice the death penalty, many countries continue to employ it as a means of justice and uphold its value in society. The death penalty debate is a multifaceted issue, encompassing many aspects of society including ethics and morality, the judicial system, and politics and the economy. It will be argued that the death penalty is a morally dubious and obsolete practice that is no longer relevant in modern judiciary, as it breaches the inviolable human right to life. Ethics and morality are primary arguments for both supporting and opposing the death penalty, as some individuals believe that the death penalty is a immoral practice and others consider that it can be morally justified when prolific crimes are committed. Punishment is fundamental element to any legal system as a means of justice and ensuing that the offender is unable to commit additional crimes; however, in the case of the death penalty there can be dire consequences if the legal system is wrong. Politics and the economy are also greatly influenced by the death penalty as they determine if the practice is maintained. The death penalty breaches a number of human rights laws and some individuals support that it is immoral; however, others consider it to be justifiable due to the heinous actions of the offender.
To understand this situation more fully, one must be given some background, starting in the early 1950s. Due to the harsh differences between the peoples of Korea, and especially due to the onset of Communism, the Korean War erupted and the nation split in half, with the Communist-supported Democratic People’s Republic in the north and those who favored democracy in the Korean Republic of the south (Microsoft Encarta Encyclopedia 2000). The two separate countries of North Korea and South Korea went their opposite ways, and each has experienced different fortunes in the past half-century. The South Koreans managed to recover from the turmoil of the 1950s and 1960s to become an economic power and a democracy supporter. On the other hand, North Korea can be viewed as a retro country, based first on a Communist ideology, laid down by leader Kim Il Sung and inherited by his son, the current dictator Kim Jong Il, then evolving into a totalitarian state (Pacific Rim: East Asia at the Dawn of a New Century). Today North Korea holds the distinction of being one of the very few remaining countries to be truly cut off from the rest of the world. Author Helie Lee describes this in her novel In the Absence of Sun: “An eerie fear crawled through my flesh as I stood on the Chinese side of the Yalu River, gazing across the murky water into one of the most closed-off and isolated countries in the world.” (1)
Human rights has evolved over time and has thus made it difficult to identify and define what exactly human rights entails because it is so complex; therefore, human rights have been categorized into three generations of rights, each focusing on the different aspects of living a life full of peace and dignity. First generation human rights focuses on promoting political rights that include rights such as the right to vote and be elected, right of peaceful assembly, and the right to a fair and public hearing for those charged with a crime. First generation rights also concentrates on civil rights that include freedom from torture or cruel inhuman or degrading punishment, freedom from slavery, and freedom to leave any country. Meanwhile, second