Take action against China's forced repatriation of North Korean refugees

Life in North Korea is desperate and countless citizens face famine, dire poverty and persecution. Unsurprisingly, many flee to China.

But China forcibly repatriates these refugees, sending them back to North Korea to face torture, imprisonment and sometimes execution.

China's government refuses to give refuge to any North Koreans or allow them safe passage to another country. Instead, it invests heavily in catching refugees. Horrendous abuses await them on their return to North Korea. China is contravening its obligations as a signatory to the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees.

Please post a handwritten letter to the Chinese ambassador using the template below as a guide, and challenge China to change its policy of forced repatriation.

Letter to Chinese embassy challenging China about its programme of forced repatriation of North Korean refugees

H. E. Mme. Fu Ying,
Ambassador,
Chinese Embassy to the United Kingdom,
49-51 Portland Place,
London,
W1B 1JL

Your Excellency,

RE: China's repatriation of North Korean refugees

I appeal to China's government to stop its policy of forced and violent repatriations; sending desperate North Korean refugees back to North Korea where they face torture, imprisonment and sometimes even death.

I am writing this letter to remind China of its obligations to North Korean refugees under the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and the 1967 Protocol of which it is a signatory.

We respectfully ask China's government to implement a legal process through which North Koreans can obtain refugee or asylum status in China. While this procedure is formulated we ask you work with the international community and allow these refugees safe passage to a third country as an interim measure. Several countries have granted permission for these refugees to resettle with them, for example South Korea and the United States.

With famine-like conditions and human rights' atrocities plaguing North Korea, more refugees will seek to escape by fleeing to China, which North Koreans know is far superior to their homeland.

Your hosting and organising the Summer Olympics is a great achievement and I know that many people enjoyed this spectacular event. Please show the world China's goodwill and leadership by adhering to your obligations to North Korean refugees.

Yours respectfully and sincerely,

[Name]

[Address]

If possible, please email advocacy@opendoorsuk.org to let us know you have joined us in this way.