International Seminar calls for global action on North Korea’s human rights crisis

Founder and Executive Director of Human Rights Reporters Ghana (HRRG), Dr. Joseph Kobla Wemakor, delivered a compelling keynote address at the International Seminar on Enhancing Human Rights Activities in North Korea, held on Friday, July 18, 2025.

Speaking to an audience of African leaders, human rights activists, scholars, North Korean defectors, and representatives from the United Nations and European Union, Dr. Wemakor outlined a bold vision for promoting international pressure and policy reforms to address North Korea’s dire human rights situation.

Under the theme: “Promoting International Pressure and Policy Recommendations for Human Rights in North Korea”, Dr. Wemakor emphasized the universality of human rights and the urgent need for global and African solidarity to confront the systemic abuses in North Korea.

Drawing from HRRG’s successful advocacy in South Korea in 2020, he proposed actionable strategies to amplify the voices of North Korean defectors, leverage media advocacy, and foster international coalitions.

HRRG: A Beacon of Human Rights Advocacy

Dr. Wemakor introduced HRRG, a Ghana-based media and advocacy NGO he founded in 2019, dedicated to uncovering human rights abuses, promoting awareness, and driving social change.

Comprising young journalists, legal professionals, and activists, HRRG has earned global recognition, including the 5th UN Global Entreps Award, the Africa Peace Advocate Award 2023, and a ranking among Ghana’s 100 Most Impactful Changemakers in 2024.

“Our work at HRRG proves that collaboration and intercultural dialogue are vital for sustainable peace and human rights,” Dr. Wemakor stated, highlighting the organization’s commitment to global justice.

Lessons from South Korea: A Blueprint for Change

Dr. Wemakor shared HRRG’s pivotal role in securing the release of Mr. Lee Man-hee, the founder of South Korea’s Shincheonji Church, who was unjustly detained in 2020 amid COVID-19-related scapegoating.

Through relentless media campaigns, research, and partnerships with global stakeholders, HRRG exposed systemic abuses, leading to Mr. Lee’s release and highlighting over 5,500 cases of human rights violations against Shincheonji believers.

“This victory showed the power of collective action and strategic communication,” Dr. Wemakor noted. “It serves as a model for what we can achieve in North Korea.”

North Korea’s Human Rights Crisis

Dr. Wemakor painted a stark picture of North Korea’s human rights landscape, citing the regime’s suppression of free expression, movement, and belief, alongside widespread surveillance, forced labor, and brutal labor camps. He referenced the United Nations’ 2014 report documenting “systematic, widespread, and gross” violations, underscoring the need for renewed global action.

“As Africans, we understand systemic oppression,” he said, drawing parallels with Africa’s history of colonialism and apartheid. “Our continent’s resilience equips us to lead advocacy for North Korea.”

Four Strategies for Global and African Solidarity

Dr. Wemakor proposed four key strategies to enhance human rights activities in North Korea:

1. Leveraging Media Advocacy: By amplifying defectors’ stories through international and African media, including platforms like X, HRRG aims to humanize the crisis and pressure the regime.
2. Building Coalitions: Partnerships with the African Union, ECOWAS, and global organizations can drive resolutions and targeted sanctions while protecting civilians.
3. Empowering Defectors: Providing platforms, funding, and training for defectors to share their testimonies will strengthen advocacy and shift global narratives.
4. Policy Recommendations: Dr. Wemakor urged the UN to establish a permanent mechanism to monitor North Korea’s abuses, advocated for humanitarian aid channels bypassing the regime, and called on African governments to offer asylum to defectors.

Africa’s Role in Leading Change

Emphasizing Africa’s unique perspective, Dr. Wemakor highlighted the continent’s potential to lead global advocacy for North Korea. “Africa’s history of overcoming challenges through unity makes us powerful advocates for justice,” he said, citing HRRG’s 2020 recognition by Business Woman Magazine, accredited by the European Parliament, as evidence of African-led impact.

A Call to Action

In his closing remarks, Dr. Wemakor returned to the South Korea case, noting how HRRG overcame scepticism to achieve global impact. “North Korea’s challenges may seem insurmountable, but change begins with a single voice,” he said, urging leaders, activists, and media to amplify the voiceless and build coalitions for justice.

“Let us commit to turning hope into action and justice into reality,” he concluded, inspiring attendees to unite for the freedom of North Korea’s people.

For more information about HRRG’s work, visit [insert HRRG website or contact details]. The seminar concluded with renewed calls for global collaboration to address one of the world’s most pressing human rights crises.