UsTooNK This publication is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Licence, with the exception of all photos and graphics. You may copy, distribute, transmit, and adapt this publication, except for its photos and graphics, provided that you attribute the work to the Korea Future Initiative and its author and it is used for non-commercial, educational, or public policy purposes. Korea Future Initiative welcomes requests for permission to translate this publication, in part or in full. Applications and enquiries should be addressed to the contact information found on the website. The full licence terms are available from: Recommended citation Burt, J. (2018). Us Too: Sexual Violence Against North Korean Women and Girls. London: Korea Future Initiative. Published by Korea Future Initiative, London, United Kingdom. Author James Burt Research Assistants Jaeyoung Wee; Nah-Yeon Kim; Heejin Choi; Young Sun Song; Nayoung Ahn; Sohyeon Song; Suyeon Yoo; Mira Shin; Younghoon Jo. Designed by Alex Howell Cover Photograph Songdowon International Children s Union Camp. Wŏnsan, North Korea by Stephan. Licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0. Available at
On 21 March 2013, at its 22nd session, the United Nations Human Rights Council established the Commission of Inquiry on Human Rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK). Resolution A/HRC/RES/22/13 mandates the body to investigate the systematic, widespread and grave violations of human rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, with a view to ensuring full accountability, in particular for violations which may amount to crimes against humanity.
Betsy Kawamura, founder of Women4NonViolence https://www.w4nv.com dialogues with Dr. Henrik Syse of PRIO and co-editor of “Journal of Military Ethics” about Women Peace and Security (WPS) in North Asia (Okinawa, Japan and the Korean Peninsula). Topics include the Battle of Okinawa, North Korean refugee women, the Status of Force Agreement SOFA, the Recreation and Amusement Association https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Recreat…. Bkawamura10@hotmail.com
Henrik Syse, PhD Research Professor, Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO) / Professor of Peace and Conflict Studies, Björknes University College / Editor, Journal of Military Ethics /Freelance lecturer / Member of the Norwegian Nobel Committee 2015 – 2020 Email: Syse@Prio.org Journal of Military Ethics: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/1…
Below are the basic questions asked by Dr. Syse in this dialog
(1) You are truly engaged with the WPS agenda, not least wishing to expand consciousness about that agenda in North-East Asia. Why? Where does your engagement come from?
(2) You are preoccupied with history, and you tell me that some articles from the Journal of Military Ethics, which I co-edit, including one on war crimes at Okinawa during and
after WW II, have been important to you. What’s the importance of history in addressing WPS concerns today?
(3) You want to reach out to military audiences. Do you think there is enough attention to sexualized violence and WPS more broadly among military personnel today? If not, what can be done to rectify that?
(4) Looking at your own path ahead, as an activist and as someone who knows this terrain well, what do you think are the most important next steps? And who do you need to work with in order to realize those steps?
These guidelines reflect the insights of practitioners from different geographic regions, disciplines and sectors, and reflect an emerging consensus on good practice among practitioners. The core idea behind them is that, in the early phase of an emergency, social supports are essential to protect and support mental health and psychosocial well-being. In addition, the guidelines recommend selected psychological and psychiatric interventions for specific problems. The guidelines include key activities for the campaign such as advocacy events, developing plans of action, coordination tools and checklist to identify gaps. It also includes key messages and ideas for implementation to communities, governments, donors, UN organizations and NGOs. The guidelines is translated to 14 differe3nt languages and can be used as:
1) A guide for programme planning and design
2) Advocacy for better practice
3) Resource for interventions or actions
4) A coordinating tool
5) Checklist to identify gaps