M-617 Democratic People's Republic of Korea

That, in the opinion of the House, the government should introduce a Human Rights in North Korea Act that would: (a) create the position of Special Envoy on Human Rights in North Korea, whose mandate would include (i) monitoring and reporting on the human rights situation in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea), including the situation of political prison camps called Kwan-li-so, (ii) monitoring and reporting on the situation of North Korean defectors, (iii) supporting international efforts to protect the people of North Korea from crimes against humanity and to promote human rights and political freedoms in North Korea, including through dialogue with international organizations and foreign governments, (iv) recommending ways for Canada to help protect the people of North Korea from crimes against humanity and to promote human rights and political freedoms in North Korea, (v) recommending ways for Canada to assist North Korean defectors in China and elsewhere; (b) provide for funding and support for non-governmental organizations that promote freedom, human rights, democracy and the rule of law in North Korea; (c) provide for funding and support for non-governmental organizations that provide humanitarian assistance to North Korean defectors in China and elsewhere; (d) require the Minister of Foreign Affairs to table regular reports in Parliament on (i) the situation of human rights in North Korea, including the situation of political prison camps Kwan-li-so, (ii) the situation of North Korean defectors in China and elsewhere, including their ability to access services provided by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and by diplomatic missions, (iii) Canadian policy regarding North Korean defectors, including North Korean refugee claimants, both within and outside Canada; and (e) facilitate applications by North Korean defectors for refugee status in Canada.