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Top page > Policies and Actions of the Government of Japan > North Korean Human Rights Abuses Awareness Week > International Symposium: Human Rights Situation in North Korea and the Abduction Issue

International Symposium: Human Rights Situation in North Korea and the Abduction Issue

1 Date

Thursday, December 13, 2007

2 Venue

Mita Kaigisho, Tokyo

3 Organizers

Headquarters for the Abduction Issue, Ministry of Justice, and Ministry of Foreign Affairs

4 Program and Panelists

Theme Human rights in North Korea and the abduction issue
Coordinator Hatsuhisa Takashima, Visiting Professor at Gakushuin University (former Chief Commentator of NHK [Japan Broadcasting Corporation] , and Press Secretary for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan)
Program
  • (1) Introductory remarks by the organizers
  • (2) Remarks from families of the abductees
  • (3) Session I: Human rights in North Korea, and response of the international community

  • Overview presented by coordinator; introduction of panelists

  • Keynote addresses

  • 　　- Fumiko Saiga, Japan’s Ambassador in Charge of Human Rights
    　　- Kim Sung-Min, representing the Free North Korea Broadcast service

  • Panel discussion

  • 　　- Michael J. Green, Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) Japan Chair
    　　- Kim Hyun-Ho, Director of the Unification Research Center of The Chosun Ilbo
    　　- Hitoshi Takase, representing Japan Independent News Net
    　　- Dr．C. Kenneth Quinones, Professor at Akita International University

  • Questions from the floor

  • Coordinator’s recap of Session I

  • (4) Session II: Working toward resolution of the abduction issue

  • Overview presented by coordinators; introduction of panelists

  • Keynote addresses

  • 　　- Nakayama Kyoko, Special Advisor to the Prime Minister
    　　- Michael J. Green, CSIS Japan Chair

  • Panel discussion

  • 　　- Toshimitsu Shigemura, Professor, School of International Liberal Studies, Waseda University (formerly member of the editorial board of The Mainichi Newspapers)
    　　- Kim Hyun-Ho, Director of the Unification Research Center of The Chosun Ilbo
    　　- Hitoshi Takase, representing Japan Independent News Net
    　　- Dr．C. Kenneth Quinones, Professor at Akita International University

  • Questions from the floor

  • Coordinator's recap of Session II

  • (5) Closing