Communication report and search

OHCHR.org

2 communications found
Date, Country,
Type and
ref. no. of
communication
Mandates Summary Replies received
    20 Feb 2025
    Democratic People's Republic of Korea
    JAL
  • disappearances
  • Democratic People's Republic of Korea
  • executions
  • Transitional justice
  • women and girls
Information received concerning alleged recurring patterns of transnational repression, including the abduction often followed by the enforced disappearance, of Japanese nationals by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea since 1950.
Alleged victims: 31
More details...
    03 Oct 2012
    Democratic People's Republic of Korea
    JAL
  • arbitrary Detention
  • executions
  • torture
  • disappearances
  • Democratic People's Republic of Korea
Alleged use of labour camps for political prisoners and pattern of human rights violations committed therein. According to the information received, labour camps, also known as kwan-li-so, for political prisoners have been in operation since the 1950s in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. It is reported that individuals who have committed or are perceived to have committed a political crime are involuntarily or forcibly taken to an interrogation facility, detained, and typically subjected to torture until a confession is obtained. After being declared guilty by the State Security Protection Agency, the detainee is either executed immediately or transferred to a prison camp. Throughout their detention, prisoners are reportedly not given a trial and are held incommunicado without notice of the charges laid down against them, nor information on the length or place of detention. According to reports, detainees have been held in harsh conditions. Prisoners, including children, have been subjected to forced labour. It is further alleged that torture and public executions are common within the camps. Reports also suggest that women have been subjected to sexual exploitation, rapes, forced abortions and killings. In at least four camps, the majority of prisoners reportedly remain in custody until their deaths. Over the past few decades, an estimated number of at least 400,000 prisoners have reportedly perished in the camps.
Alleged victims: 6
More details...