The NUAC Seoul Assembly (Vice-chairperson: Sohn Kyung-sik) hosted the “Unification Symposium, accompanied by professional organizations,” on October 6 at Sheraton Seoul Palace Gangnam Hotel.

The symposium, which invited the Korean Women Lawyers Association (President: Lee Eun-kyeong), was themed “The Meaning of 「North Korean Human Rights Act」 and Future Tasks.”

Kim Yeong-sook, Chief of the Women's Standing Committee of the NUAC Seoul Assembly and host of the symposium, cited President Park's commemorative address on the ROK Armed Forces Day on October 1 (calling on North Korean citizens to "find a new home in the free land of South Korea"). "The human rights violation of North Korean citizens has continued to worsen while the Kim Jong-un regime in North Korea has been focusing on developing nuclear arms. Our society must gather the power to improve human rights in North Korea, capitalizing on 「North Korean Human Rights Act」 taking effect (2016.9.3)," she stressed.

For her part, President Lee Eun-kyeong said that the Korean Women Lawyers Association has been actively participating in and contributing to the resolution of social issues and pro bono activities. "The Korean Women Lawyers Association will take this symposium as an opportunity to participate in the 'public forum for unification' and exert practical efforts in the improvement of human rights in North Korea and preparation for unification, just as women stood at the forefront of the national debt repayment movement during the latter era of the Choson Dynasty," she added.

In the presentation that followed, Dr. Lee Kyu-chang (Korea Institute for National Unification) explained the enactment process and controversies of 「North Korean Human Rights Act」, noting that the “main significance of 「North Korean Human Rights Act」 are △protection and improvement of human rights of North Korean citizens, △establishment of institutional basis for North Korean human rights policy, and △process of preparation for unification." He proposed the following future tasks: △harmonious operation of regulations outlined in 「North Korean Human Rights Act」; △sufficient gathering of opinion and discussion of matters not specified in 「North Korean Human Rights Act」 (for example, issues of North Korean defectors abroad or laborers dispatched overseas); △complete preparation of the agenda and method of joint South-North human rights talks; and △revised North Korean human rights policy and strategy for the parallel progress of South-North relations.

Female NUAC council members and lawyers who were present at the symposium shared their views on the main points and future tasks regarding 「North Korean Human Rights Act」 and discussed action plans involving both organizations to improve human rights in North Korea. Furthermore, they formed a consensus that "regarding the North Korean refugees around us with love as neighbors and letting this be known to the families that are still in North Korea are also part of preparing for unification."