Ghana’s human rights champion calls for global solidarity to address North Korea’s crisis

In a stirring keynote address delivered at the International Seminar on Enhancing Human Rights Activities in North Korea, Ghanaian human rights advocate Dr. Joseph Kobla Wemakor made an impassioned plea for international collaboration to address one of the world’s gravest human rights crises.

Speaking to a distinguished gathering of diplomats, UN representatives, North Korean defectors, and civil society leaders from across Africa and beyond, Dr. Wemakor founder and Executive Director of Human Rights Reporters Ghana (HRRG) outlined a bold vision for strengthening international pressure and formulating policy recommendations to help bring justice and freedom to the North Korean people.

“I am deeply honored to stand here today, united with you all by a shared vision of justice, dignity, and freedom for all,” Dr. Wemakor began, setting the tone for what would become a powerful appeal for action.

Introducing HRRG, the organization he founded in 2019, Dr. Wemakor highlighted its mission: to expose and address human rights abuses, advocate for the vulnerable, and drive legal and policy reforms. Composed of passionate young journalists, legal professionals, and activists, HRRG has become a leading voice in West Africa’s human rights landscape.

Its influence has been widely recognized, earning honors such as the UN Global Entreps Award, the Africa Peace Advocate Award, and a place among Ghana’s 100 Most Impactful Changemakers in 2024.

Yet for Dr. Wemakor, these accolades are merely stepping stones toward a greater goal: empowering voices across borders and building a global movement for justice.

Drawing from HRRG’s international advocacy work, Dr. Wemakor shared a compelling case study that underscored the power of coordinated action. In 2020, amid the COVID-19 pandemic, HRRG joined global efforts to campaign for the release of Mr. Lee Man-hee, the 89-year-old founder of South Korea’s Shincheonji Church of Jesus Christ, who had been arrested under controversial charges related to the outbreak.

“Over 220,000 church members were vilified, and more than 5,500 cases of human rights violations were recorded,” Dr. Wemakor said. “It was not merely an attack on a religious group but on fundamental freedoms.”

Through press campaigns, advocacy articles, and international collaboration, HRRG played a vital role in generating global awareness.

Their efforts, alongside those of other civil society groups and institutions, ultimately led to Mr. Lee’s release.

“That case reminded the world that small organizations, when determined and united, can achieve tremendous results,” he reflected.

Turning attention to North Korea, Dr. Wemakor described the country’s ongoing human rights crisis as “one of the most severe and enduring” in modern history.

“Freedom of expression, belief, and movement are virtually non-existent. Citizens live under constant surveillance, subjected to forced labor, indoctrination, and brutality in prison camps,” he said.

He emphasized that the stories shared by defectors some of whom attended the seminar serve as undeniable testimony of suffering and resilience. Despite extensive documentation by the United Nations and other organizations, international efforts have yielded limited progress.

As an African leader, Dr. Wemakor brought a unique and resonant perspective to the conversation.

“As Africans, we understand systemic oppression. We’ve lived through colonialism, apartheid, and countless struggles for freedom. That lived experience equips us with empathy—and a responsibility to act,” he said.

He outlined a four-point strategy to strengthen international efforts and build African solidarity with North Korean victims:

1. Media Advocacy to Amplify Voices
   Dr. Wemakor called for international and African media outlets to elevate the stories of North Korean defectors and humanize the crisis. He also urged the use of digital platforms like X (formerly Twitter) to run awareness campaigns that can pressure the regime and engage younger audiences.
2. Building Coalitions Across Borders
   Drawing from HRRG’s success in coalition-building, he recommended engaging institutions like the African Union and ECOWAS to adopt resolutions and support sanctions targeting regime leaders—not citizens.
3. Empowering Defectors as Change Agents
   “Defectors are not just victims—they are advocates,” he said. Wemakor proposed funding and protecting defector-led initiatives, ensuring their safety and amplifying their narratives at international forums.
4. Policy Recommendations for Lasting Impact
   Concrete policy actions are critical, he noted. These include urging the UN to establish a permanent mechanism to monitor abuses in North Korea, creating independent humanitarian aid channels, and encouraging African nations to offer asylum to North Korean defectors.

“Africa must not be a passive observer,” Wemakor declared. “We have the power and the moral authority to lead in this space.”

He referenced HRRG’s global engagements and its recognition by European Parliament-accredited institutions as evidence that African human rights organizations can influence global discourse.

In conclusion, Dr. Wemakor returned to the story of HRRG’s advocacy during the South Korean crisis.

“We were told we couldn’t make a difference. But we did,” he said. “North Korea may seem unreachable, but every change begins with a single act of courage.”

With emotion and clarity, he addressed the crowd: “To the leaders, activists, defectors, and media in this room you are the architects of change. Let us turn our shared vision into concrete action.”

As applause filled the auditorium, it was clear that Dr. Wemakor’s message had struck a deep chord one of solidarity, urgency, and hope.