Canada’s North Korea Human Rights Act
Recently a resolution calling for the enactment of North Korea Human Rights Act was submitted in the Canadian Federal Parliament by Canadian members of parliament. If approved, the submitted act will observe and report on North Korea’s Human Rights conditions, appoint a North Korean Human Rights Ambassador, and give funding to non-government institutions that support defectors living in China.
Additionally the bill will allow North Korean defectors to receive refugee status in Canada more easily.
For the last three days, Parliament’s Irwin Cotler has focused on his proposal that presses his government to move the North Korean Rights Bill forward. If the bill passes, it will address the freedom and human rights in North Korea, improvement in law system and giving aid to non-government organizations that support North Korean defectors in China.
Due to the upcoming recess for Parliament, the North Korean Human Rights bill might take a considerable amount of time yet it seems that in the future Canada will play a more aggressive role in the North Korean human rights issues.
[Source: Voice of America]
