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| FACTBOX-N Korea's suspected human rights abuses |
| 04-JUL-2009 Intellasia | Reuters |
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| 4 Jul, 2009 - 7:00:00 AM |
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The following is a list of human rights abuses carried out by North Korea, according to a US State Department report released earlier this year.
* Citizens denied freedom of speech, assembly and association.
* Use of arbitrary and unlawful killings to instill fear into the masses.
* Kidnapping and imprisonment of people without legal explanation.
* Severe torture and abuse, including forced abortions and sexual abuse in the case of female prisoners.
* Up to 200,000 political prisoners in correctional facilities for political offenses that include damaging pictures of state founder Kim Il-sung and current leader Kim Jong-il.
* Random security checks of private homes and communities.
* Correspondence and telephone conversations monitored by the government.
* Entire families sent to prison for one member's wrongdoings.
* government control over all artistic and academic products.
* Police engaging in routine activities to control illegal circulation of foreign media.
* Freedom of religion harshly limited to the national belief in Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il are supreme authorities.
* Restricted movement within North Korea and prohibition of emigration, for which the punishment can lead to death.
* No set rules for refugee protection.
* No public access to government information.
* Prevalent discrimination of gender and social status.
* government officials receiving bribes to expedite human trafficking, which in many cases North Korean women are forced into prostitution.
* Forced labour, including minors.
* Additional human rights abuses, including withholding wages and citizens' exposure to hazardous conditions while working abroad for North Korean firms.
http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSTRE5611EY20090702
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