We have recently updated the North Korean Prison Database, an archive that sheds light on the widespread human rights violations within the country's penal system. This comprehensive and growing database is freely accessible, aiming to support justice and accountability efforts globally.
The database is a result of meticulous research and documentation, revealing a staggering 9,150 cases of human rights violations, identifying 1,425 detainees, 1,095 perpetrators, and mapping 245 penal facilities. This extensive collection of data is crucial for understanding the scale and nature of the violations committed in the penal system, which operates under the strict control of the Workers’ Party of Korea and serves as a political tool to enforce the Supreme Leader’s authority. Accompanying the database, we have written briefing papers on sexual and gender-based violence as well as disability rights.
Our mission is to conduct thorough investigations into these human rights violations, providing detailed findings to national and international authorities to secure justice with victims and ensure accountability for perpetrators. Our investigative methods, developed and reviewed by experts with international legal experience, focus on interviewing direct victims, witnesses, and former state agents, conducting high-quality legal analysis of primary documents, and preserving information for future prosecutions.
Through the database, we aim to empower victims, inform the international community, and drive meaningful action towards holding the perpetrators accountable. We invite everyone to explore the database, utilise the information, and join us in our pursuit of justice for the countless victims of the North Korean penal system.
This update is also accompanied by a tutorial video containing directions and navigation tips to help new users utilise the database to the fullest.
