Hanvoice Impact Report Web

Impact Report 2020 We’re building a network of advocates to outlast the human rights crisis in North Korea.

2 © Teun Janssen, 2017 © HanVoice Chris Kim, HanVoice Executive Director speaking at a HanVoice event in Toronto in July 2018. Message from Leadership

North Korea has one of the most distressing human rights crises of our generation. You need only look at satellite imagery of the Korean peninsula to see the extinguishing effect of a brutal dictatorship, three generations in the making.

In North Korea, 25 million lives exist under a regime that unreservedly perpetrates crimes against humanity. 25 million lives continue to be denied the most fundamental rights of free expression, free mobility, and free religion. 25 million lives remain subservient to an oppressive leadership that prioritizes its own survival above all else.

In the complex arena of international relations, most global powers are left little choice but to focus on security issues. This is why we believe Canada has the opportunity to lead on a human-centric approach and focus on the North Korean people through human rights advocacy. Our view is ultimately driven by the tangible action taken by everyday Canadians over our thirteen year history. Indeed, thanks to the courage and concern of Canadians from coast to coast, today our political parties are undivided in their recognition of and concern for the North Korean human rights crisis.

With the ongoing crisis and no signs of slowdown, there is clearly more that can and must be done for the North Korean people. Central to our mission is the belief that Canada and Canadians can and should emerge as leading advocates on this issue and ensure that the voices of North Korean people are rightfully heard. To this end, we're committed to building a network of advocates to outlast the human rights crisis in North Korea. I hope you will continue to read this report to ﬁnd out how. “Central to our mission is the belief that Canada should act.”

Chris Kim Executive Director 3 Advocating for legislative action by 01 The work you ENGAGING POLICYMAKERS AND MEDIA make possible.

Outlasting the human rights crisis by 02 BUILDING A NETWORK OF ADVOCATES

03 Raising a new generation of leaders by EMPOWERING NORTH KOREAN VOICES IMPACT REPORT 2020 REPORT IMPACT 4 We’re advocating for legislative action by engaging policymakers and national media.

01 5 6 Policy

times that HanVoice has Advocacy testified in Parliament

minutes in oral testimony provided

20,000

words entered into parliamentary record

© HanVoice / 2019 Jack Kim, HanVoice Board Chair, at a community event with Prime 6 01 Minister Justin Trudeau in August 2019. © HanVoice / 2018 Senator Yonah Martin leading a tour of Parliament for HanVoice students in October 2018.

We’re advocating for a Canadian solution to resettle vulnerable North Koreans in transit.

The House Committee on International Human Rights 2014 passed a unanimous motion recommending our proposal.

The Conservative Party of Canada pledged to adopt our We held a 3-day Lobby Day in Ottawa with 30 students 2015 proposal as a part of their election platform. 2018 meeting with more than 20 federal policymakers. We received support letters from every meeting.

The Senate Committee on Human Rights passed a motion 2016 recommending our proposal. We held a 3-day Lobby Day in Toronto with 40 students 2019 meeting with more than 15 parliamentarians and politicians. HANVOICE ADVOCACY PROGRAM ADVOCACY HANVOICE 7 We've met with over 200 Canadian policymakers urging for action on North Korea. IMPACT REPORT 2020 REPORT IMPACT 8 We've given 70+ interviews on 25+ news outlets

We are regularly consulted as the leading expert and organization on North Korean issues in Canada.

We testified at the Foreign Affairs and International 2015 Development Committee.

We were one of 12 groups represented at the Civil 2018 Society Roundtable at the Foreign Ministers’ Summit on North Korea in Vancouver.

We later held separate meetings with with Global Affairs Canada and the Minister of Foreign Affairs’ Office. HANVOICE ADVOCACY PROGRAM ADVOCACY HANVOICE 9 We’re outlasting the crisis by building a network of effective advocates.

02 10 In 2009, we established HanVoice’s Each year, the chapters hold a wide array first student chapter at the University of seminars, workshops, and events to of Toronto. Since then, we have grown educate their local community about the to 9 chapters with over 300 student human rights situation in North Korea. Advocacy advocates across Canada. Program

In 2018, we began to engage, empower, In 2021, we hope to gather a diverse and equip our chapters to advocate for group of university students across policy change. That fall, 30 students Canada for a 3-day training and Lobby from 6 chapters arrived in Ottawa. Day in Ottawa. They spent 3 days in intensive advocacy training. They met with over 20 Through our program, emerging parliamentarians and received letters Canadian leaders will gain exposure to from each meeting. political and civic engagement for social change, and discover tools to become effective advocates. 02 11 We’ve engaged over 2,000 students

in 10 years. UOTTAWA MCGILL

Here's our team across Canada.

MCMASTER

QUEENS

UBC

WESTERN YORK

WATERLOO UOFT HANVOICE ADVOCACY PROGRAM ADVOCACY HANVOICE 12 © HanVoice / 2018 Senator Yonah Martin welcoming HanVoice students into her Senate office in October 2018. Through our program, our students:

01. Gain experience in 04. Develop young grassroots organizing. professionals. We provide opportunities for young Students receive holistic development Canadians to engage in and strategize training from Directors who are year-round grassroots campaigns at one professionals from diverse fields, of our nine chapters. including in networking and leadership.

02. Become more 05. Emerge as confident effective advocates. human rights advocates. From drafting meeting requests to Students will transform with training delivering an effective pitch, students and direct interactions with receive training on the advocacy process policymakers. from start to finish.

03. Learn more about the issue. Students attend seminars to learn about Canadian foreign policy, the current human rights situation, and more. HANVOICE ADVOCACY PROGRAM ADVOCACY HANVOICE 13 © HanVoice / 2020 A portrait picture of Bushra. Bushra is the co-president of the University of Toronto chapter.

PROGRAM IMPACT We surveyed 75% of our chapters “In high school, and 80% of the I didn’t know how participants from a to translate my frustrations about the pilot training in world into something Ottawa. practical. Lucky for me, I found HanVoice.”

Bushra (20) University of Toronto HANVOICE ADVOCACY PROGRAM ADVOCACY HANVOICE 14 all chapter members pilot program participants

said that HanVoice said that HanVoice helped their improved their knowledge of 96% 97% 57% 73% chances of getting a job human rights issues

said that HanVoice said that HanVoice led them to advocate 87% 94% improved their advocacy skills 96% 97% for other human rights causes

said that HanVoice said that HanVoice led them to vote 61% 82% improved their leadership ability 55% 61% for the first time HANVOICE ADVOCACY PROGRAM ADVOCACY HANVOICE 15 © HanVoice / 2018 Senator Yonah Martin leading a tour of Parliament for HanVoice students in October 2018.

HANVOICE ADVOCACY Program Cost

Student Travel $15,000

Administration $17,500

$50,000 “Powerful meeting

Speaker Travel $5,000 with HanVoice. The civic engagement displayed by Misc $2,500 these young people will Venue & Catering Lodging & Meals $2,500 $7,500 change the world. I hope our Government will listen.”

Former MP Celina Caesar-Chavannes HANVOICE ADVOCACY PROGRAM ADVOCACY HANVOICE 16 © HanVoice / 2018 Picture of HanVoice chapter members at the University of Toronto asking questions at a training in October 2019.

“I sat down with some of the passionate young people behind HanVoice, a strong group of advocates for the human rights of North Koreans.”

Independent Senator Ratna Omidvar

“These“Powerful students meeting are passionatewith HanVoice. advocates The civic for theengagement rights of North displayed Koreans. by Theirthese drive, young dedication people will and determinationchange the world. to see a better future for North I hope our Government Koreans is exceptional.” © HanVoice will listen.” Picture of thirty students who participated in the three-day Lobby Day in October 2018. Conservative MP James Bezan, ShadowFormer MP Minister Celina for Caesar-Chavannes National Defence HANVOICE ADVOCACY PROGRAM ADVOCACY HANVOICE 17 We’re raising a new generation of leaders by empowering North Korean voices.

03 18 Pioneers Program

Each year, we select North Korean As part of the program, our Pioneers defectors living in South Korea to have met with federal ministers, participate in our 6-month program as politicians and parliamentarians, and “Pioneers.” Their ﬁrst two months are the Prime Minister. They have testiﬁed spent in Toronto, where they receive before the House and the Senate, and training in advocacy, leadership, and ESL. have also appeared numerous times on Afterwards, they participate in a 4-month national media. They have travelled internship with a parliamentarian in across the country, putting a human Ottawa where they have the chance to face to this movement, and educating apply these skillsets. Canadians about the ongoing human rights crisis in their country. 03 19 Through our program, the Pioneers:

01. Learn how to harness 04. Gain exposure to personal narratives to the “halls of power” advocate for change and leadership. This includes oral advocacy training, We provide the Pioneers unprecedented strategies in capacity-building, leadership, exposure and access to key decision- and critical thinking. makers, with opportunities to practice oral advocacy.

© HanVoice / 2018 02. Enhance English- Picture of our fifth Pioneer, Alice Kim on a panel with Director of the North Korea Task Force under Global Affairs 05. Emerge as confident Canada and the South Korean Ambassador to Canada. language proficiency. We provide the Pioneers with English- human rights advocates. language training through classes and Through training and direct interactions interactions with Canadians. with policymakers, we believe the Pioneers “I plan to use policy will transform into confident advocates. to redraw the lines 03. Support the that have changed grassroots movement. We provide opportunities for the Pioneers the lives of to share their lived experiences as North countless North Koreans with Canadians and build support for the movement. Korean people.”

Alice Kim, 2019 HANVOICE PIONEERS PROGRAM HANVOICE 20 My experience with HanVoice helped improve 100% 100% 100% PROGRAM IMPACT my knowledge in: 5 Pioneers: Human Rights Refugee Issues Democracy My experience with HanVoice helped improve 100% 100% Seongmin, Sungju, my skills in:

Audrey, Ellie, Alice. Public Speaking Advocacy

My experience with HanVoice helped 68% improve my chances of getting a job. 3 12 8,000 Yes

appearances news articles in words spoken in My experience with before Parliament national media Parliament HanVoice made me 100% 100% more likely to:

Volunteer with Advocate for another human human rights rights NGO causes HANVOICE PIONEERS PROGRAM HANVOICE 21 HANVOICE PIONEERS Program Cost “My experience

in Canada has Lodging & Meals $10,000 profoundly changed the way I view 20,000 PER PIONEER human rights

Administration advocacy and $6,000 Travel $3,000

my own future.” Venue & Catering $1,000

Audrey Park, 2016 HANVOICE PIONEERS PROGRAM HANVOICE 22 © HanVoice / 2017 Picture of our first Pioneer, Seongmin Lee speaking at a HanVoice event in Toronto in May 2017. meet

“In a sense, Seongmin I transitioned from Lee the world's least free country to the

Seongmin Lee, HanVoice’s first Pioneer, freest one, and I’m was born in a small village near the still overwhelmed border between North Korea and China. His father worked for the air force and his at times with the mother worked at a local trading magnitude and company. layers of freedom At the age of 19, Seongmin bribed his way there are.” into obtaining a job as a driver, which paid a monthly salary of only 4,000 won Seongmin just completed his master (~$0.50) and benefits. On December 2, degree from Columbia University, 2009, Lee snuck his mother across the specializing in international security border into China with the hope of policy and management. reuniting with his sister, who had fled years earlier. From China, Lee escaped to In the future, he hopes to work at a Laos and then, finally, to Seoul. government institution such as the State Seongmin became the first North Korean Department or at an international defector to testify in English before the organization like the United Nations, at a United Nations High Commissioner for post where the tasks heavily engage the Refugees in Geneva. Korean peninsula.

23 meet

Sungju

Lee In 2002, my father who had made it to South Korea sent a broker to North Korea. So, I crossed Tuman River, “My parents were escaping North Korea with the help of the broker. I stayed in China for a week. The gone. I was alone broker made a fake passport for me. With and I was the only that passport, I made it to South Korea.” son in my family. During his time as a HanVoice Pioneer in So, I became an 2014, Sungju worked as an intern at MP Barry Devolin’s Ofﬁce, interviewed with 5 orphan.” national Canadian news outlets, and testiﬁed at the House of Commons. “I was born in Pyongyang in 1987. I lived there until I was 10 years old. In 1997, our Since his time with HanVoice, Sungju has family was deported to Kyunsung, in become an award-winning author of the Northern HanKyung Province. That’s book “Every Falling Star: The True Story when life became very tough for us. We of How I Survived and Escaped North lived in Kyunsung for a year and my father Korea” published in 2002. He is a went to China to get food. 3 months after Fulbright Scholar completing his post my dad had left, my mother also left to doctorate at George Mason University search for food. My parents were gone. and holds a master’s and undergraduate I was alone and I was the only son in my degree from the University of Warwick © CNN / 2019 Picture of our second Pioneer, Sungju Lee family. So, I became an orphan. and Sogang University, respectively. on CNN in June 2019.

24 © Jean Levac / Postmedia News Picture of our third Pioneer, Audrey Park in an interview with the Ottawa Citizen in October 2016. meet

has equipped me with the skillset necessary to wield this tool; developing Audrey important relationships and speaking to a diverse array of audiences has not only improved my public speaking skills, but has Park also taught me the importance and value of “Being born and raised in North Korea advocating from the grassroots level. means living in unpredictability and adversity. When I was 10, I crossed the Sharing my story was not always easy. Chinese border for the first time with my Immense courage was required for me to mother in order to seek food; when I was face the most terrifying and depressing eleven, I was repatriated to North Korea by moments of my life. During my internship, the Chinese police; by fifteen, I had I was given the opportunity to testify at the endured repatriation thrice and had lived in Senate about the plight of North Koreans North Korean labour camps for many through my own personal story. Publicly months; when I was seventeen, I trekked sharing my experience of living through the through the freezing cold of the Gobi Great Famine as well as facing human Desert in order to seek asylum. Finally, in trafficking and repatriations in China in 2006, after traversing a thousand miles, I front of Canada’s leading politicians was found freedom and became a citizen of the not easy; I spent countless hours honing Republic of Korea. my skills of oral advocacy and also had to re-live a past that represented the darkest My experience in Canada has profoundly times of my life. changed the way I view North Korean human rights advocacy as well as my own But through this amazing experience, I was future. It has allowed me to face my past able to witness the willingness and genuine and see it as an instrument of and catalyst interest of Canada’s political leaders to for change. The HanVoice Pioneer Program ameliorate the North Korean crisis.”

25 Meet Our Leadership

Bushra Boblai Co-President Jack Kim Chair Toronto Chris Kim Executive Director Dania Asahi Ogie Co-President

Alex Woo Member Sarah Choi Co-President Waterloo Erica Park Member Eunice Na Co-President Eric Choi Member McGill Lynn Lee President Monica Chi Member

Queen's Aidan Gurung President

Danny Yeo Chair Grace Lee Co-President Western Jonghee Lee South Korean Government Visiting Scholar Lian Buwadi Co-President Mrudul Tummala Director of Monitoring & Evaluation Christina Kim Co-President Charis Jung Director of Finance UBC Jaehee Lee Co-President Chloe Pulfer Director of Communications

Mégane Visette Director of Knowledge Management Matthew Min Co-President Ottawa Cindy Kao Director of Chapters, Strategy Nami Cho Co-President

Chris Thompson Director of Chapters, Development Taylor Boss Co-President Suo Nan Ji Director of Chapters, Capacity Building McMaster Emma Baliat Co-President Heelan Kwon Director of HanVoice Pioneer Project

York Tiffany Patwary President Summer Lee Director of National Policy Advocacy

Sean Chung Director of Lobbying and Strategy WLU Eryn Young President HANVOICE ADVOCACY PROGRAM ADVOCACY HANVOICE 26 Let’s build the future of the movement, together.

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Note on maps: All maps included in this publication are stylized and not to scale. They do not reﬂect a position by HanVoice on the legal status of any country or area or the delimitation of any frontiers. This report, additional online content and corrigenda are available at hanvoice.ca Impact Report 2020