Canada reaffirms commitment to human rights in North Korea

Canadian Ambassador to Korea Tamara Mawhinney gives an opening speech during the Roundtable on North Korean Human Rights event at the Embassy of Canada in Seoul, Wednesday. Korea Times photo by Kim Hyun-bin

Canadian Ambassador to Korea Tamara Mawhinney says the promotion of human rights in North Korea remains a priority as she highlighted her country’s ongoing commitment at an event supporting human rights initiatives at the Canadian Embassy in Seoul, Wednesday.

“This event stands as a testament to the dedication of the government of Canada, the Republic of Korea and everyone present in promoting and improving human rights in North Korea,” she said.

Vice Minister of Unification Kim Soo-kyung highlighted the nation's ongoing efforts to address the issue and praised Canada’s role in supporting related initiatives.

Speaking at the event, Kim emphasized the importance of upholding constitutional values while navigating an increasingly complex geopolitical landscape. She noted that North Korea has reinforced its stance on a two-state system while global diplomatic shifts, including changes in U.S. leadership, have contributed to regional instability.

“Despite these challenging circumstances, we must remain committed to our fundamental principles,” Kim said. “The Ministry of Unification continues its efforts to advance unification by upholding the constitutional values of South Korea as a guiding compass, striving to provide a better future for all people on the Korean Peninsula.”

Vice Minister of Unification Kim Soo-kyung speaks during the Roundtable on North Korean Human Rights event at the Embassy of Canada in Seoul, Wednesday. Korea Times photo by Kim Hyun-bin

The event featured presentations from two organizations supported by the Embassy of Canada Fund for Human Rights in North Korea: People for Successful Korean Reunification (PSCORE) and the Association for North Korean Migrants Studies (ANKMS).

PSCORE’s project, titled “Investigating digital rights violations and North Korean IT workers’ conditions in North Korea and Abroad,” examines the exploitation of North Korean IT workers and the broader implications of cyber operations conducted by the regime. Mawhinney emphasized the often-overlooked human rights violations affecting both the workers and the victims of cyberattacks linked to North Korea.

ANKMS presented a comparative analysis of North Korea’s legislation on women’s rights and its actual implementation. The study highlights the significant gap between rights guaranteed on paper and their application in practice.

“As we all know, there is a significant discrepancy in North Korea between rights, notably women’s rights, and how they are guaranteed in theory but ignored in practice,” Mawhinney said.

James Heenan, the U.N. Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) Seoul representative, served as the event’s discussant.

Mawhinney reaffirmed Canada’s commitment to raising awareness about human rights violations in North Korea, stressing the issue as a key component of Korea-Canada bilateral cooperation. She pointed to the recent Korea-Canada 2+2 ministerial meeting, where both nations’ foreign and defense ministers highlighted the link between North Korean human rights and international peace and security.

“Canada looks forward to continuing our close cooperation with the Korean government, international organizations, civil society and like-minded embassies to protect and promote human rights in North Korea,” Mawhinney said.

She expressed hope that events like this would encourage further collaborative efforts and partnerships.

“It is essential that we continue to raise awareness about the human rights situation in North Korea, hold the regime accountable, promote access to information for North Koreans and provide a safe space for victims and escapees to speak up and engage meaningfully in these efforts,” she said.