In December 2012, the senior representatives of NKDB (Database Center for North Korean Human Rights), NKIS (the North Korean Intellectuals Solidarity) and PSCORE (People for Successful COrean REunification) visited Europe (Belgium, England, France and Germany) on a study trip organized by the Hanns-Seidel-Foundation. The purpose of this study trip was to exchange experiences with the European NGOs in the fields of human rights and democratic transition experiences in Europe.

This included a dialogue with the German Federal Foundation for the Reappraisal of Communist Dictatorship (Stiftung zur Aufarbeitung der SED-Diktatur), Amnesty International Berlin, Human Rights watch Berlin, Internationale Gesellschaft fuer Menschenrechte (IGFM), Fédération internationale des ligues des droits de l'Homme (FIDH) as well as NGOs active in the field of humanitarian aid (PAH: Polish Humanitarian Action).

In London, the All Party Group on North Korea, chaired by Lord David Alton, organized a hearing at Westminster and took evidence from Mr. Heung-kwang Kim (NKIS) and Mr. Young il Kim (PSCORE). In Brussels, human rights dialogue took place with individual NGOs (Human rights without frontiers, Open society foundation Brussels, Euro Journal) as well as NGO associations and Community institutions (Parliament, Commission, External Action Service, Council of the European Union), to get a better understanding of the possibilities of joint human rights activities. The delegation also had a meeting with some journalists in Paris and had met with politicians as well.

Additionally, this field trip focused on the human rights experience of East Germany before unification and the delegation also visited meaningful places like Secret service (StaSi) prison in Hohenschönhausen, Berlin Wall Memorial, Memorial Museum in the „Runde Ecke“ and Museum of contemporary History (Zeitgeschichtliches Forum) in Leipzig.   

 [Please find out more on www.EKHR.eu]