North Korea 2021

North Korea

Unity of Bridge Woorion

Fostering Young Defector Leaders in Human Rights and Democracy

$79,500

To provide an opportunity for young, educated North Korean defectors to engage in issues related to human rights and democracy. The organization will carry out a leadership program for young defectors to take part in human rights and democracy advocacy. Additionally, it will develop an alumni network and encourage collaboration between participants and alumni on developing new ways to address democracy and human rights in North Korea.

North Korea

Unification Media Group

Enhancing Access to Information through Radio Broadcast and Digital Media

$760,000

To provide independent news and information to the citizens of North Korea. The organization will broadcast its daily radio program, which provides news and analyses on current affairs around the world and commentary on human rights and democracy issues, as well as create new video content focused on civic education. In addition, it will monitor and analyze North Korea’s changing media environment to explore new information dissemination methods.

North Korea

Unification Academy

Encouraging Discourse on Reform

$140,000

To promote human rights and democratic values in reform discourse in North Korea. Project activities will include research that will aim to identify key issues and ways to apply international conventions and mechanisms in reform discussions in North Korea. Based on the research, the organization will publish a series of policy papers in collaboration with human rights, international law, and development experts.

North Korea

Stichting Global Rights Compliance Foundation

Strengthening Legal Capacity to Pursue Accountability

$319,000

To enhance the legal knowledge and capacity of civil society organizations to pursue justice and accountability. Project activities will include tailored legal mentorship to North Korean human rights organizations to strengthen their ability to seek accountability. The organization will also pursue joint advocacy strategies with partner organizations based on its legal analysis of viable accountability mechanisms. In addition, the organization will facilitate knowledge sharing between North Korean human rights organizations and stakeholders from other countries who have pursued accountability mechanisms.

North Korea

Save North Korea

Enhancing Access to Information through Mediumwave Radio Broadcast

$260,000

To provide critical analysis and commentary on democratic values to the citizens of North Korea. The organization will broadcast a mediumwave radio program for a total of one hour a week. The broadcast will be comprised of news, lectures, and discussions to enhance understanding of democratic values among its target audience.

North Korea

North Korea Development Institute (NKRI)

Encouraging Democratic Reform Through Radio Broadcast

$294,000

To support the free flow of information into North Korea. The organization will produce a daily shortwave radio program to be broadcast into North Korea, comprised of news reports on current events in North Korea and the world, informed analysis, and critical commentary designed to encourage reform and the development of independent public opinion inside the country. The organization will also produce short documentaries on democratic values and ideals and disseminate them to its target audience.

North Korea

North Korea Development Institute

Strengthening the Capacity of Defector Researchers

$199,000

To strengthen the capacity of defectors to conduct research on democracy in North Korea. The organization will organize a series of trainings and discussions for participants to deepen their understanding of democratic transitions and carry out a research project to identify opportunities for promoting democratic change at the local level. The organization will share research findings with North Korean human rights organizations and other relevant stakeholders interested in grassroots efforts.

North Korea

NK Watch

Human Rights Documentation and International Advocacy

$290,000

To increase international awareness and pressure to address the human rights violations in North Korea. The organization will document human rights violations by interviewing defectors and filing petitions with the UN on behalf of victims or their families. The organization will also conduct international advocacy with the collected evidence and data.

North Korea

Korea Future Initiative CIO

Bolstering Defector Women’s Role in Advancing Human Rights

$61,212

To cultivate the leadership of defector women and encourage their participation in fostering democratic values and advancing human rights. The organization will conduct monthly training workshops and discussion forums for emerging defector women activists on democracy and civic engagement. In addition, the organization will support program participants to exercise their leadership skills by organizing awareness raising events on North Korean human rights issues for defector students.

North Korea

International Republican Institute (IRI)

Investing In Democratic Young Leaders In Korea (IDYLIK) IV

$400,000

To foster a network of young democratic Korean leaders with the necessary skills and experience to promote North Korean human rights, the Institute will provide skills training and experiential learning by forming the By Youth, For Youth (BYFY) Council on North Korean Human Rights. The BYFY Council will collaborate with IRI to co-develop and co-implement a domestic awareness raising campaign on North Korean human rights. Through the campaign, the South Korean public, particularly youth, will become more acutely aware of North Korean human rights issues and policies, empowering them to engage in civic discourse and action to include human rights in inter-Korean engagement.

North Korea

Interlab

Strengthening Digital Security Among Human Rights Activists

$175,000

To enhance the digital security of North Korean human rights organizations and emerging defector activists. The organization will provide critical cybersecurity support and trainings, technical assistance to develop digital security policies, as well as information sharing opportunities on digital threats for North Korean human rights organizations. In addition, the organization will conduct an in-depth analysis of the catalogue of digital threats to the North Korean human rights community collected over the years.

North Korea

Database Center for North Korean Human Rights

Bolstering Youth Capacity and Participation on Human Rights

$350,000

To equip defector and South Korean youth with the knowledge and skills needed to take leadership in advancing North Korean human rights. The organization will implement an education and leadership project designed to bolster the capacity of young defectors and South Koreans to cultivate and nurture the next generation of activists in the North Korean human rights movement. The program will be comprised of three civic education academies focusing on North Korean human rights, international human rights frameworks, and democratic norms and values, and one leadership forum for graduates of its academies.

North Korea

Center for Korean Women and Politics

Cultivating and Supporting Democratic Leadership in Defector Youth

$430,000

To instill democratic values and cultivate leadership in young defectors, and to foster their capacity to produce informed analysis on North Korean human rights and democracy issues. The organization will provide educational and civic engagement programs for young defectors to equip them as leaders of democratic change. In addition, the organization will support defectors to conduct research that can help spur positive change in North Korean society.

North Korea

Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE)

Creating Political Space Through Private Markets And Entrepreneurs

$391,619

To enhance the availability of information on entrepreneurship and free markets and to cultivate spaces that will lay the foundation for a market-oriented civil society. The Center will refine its existing digital resource library to reflect ongoing changes in markets and the current needs of market operators. Additionally, the Center will work to identify opportunities to foster the entrepreneurial community.

North Korea

Universal Rights

Providing Accurate News on North Korea

$360,000

To provide accurate, reliable, and timely news and information on North Korea. The project will produce an online magazine which will be comprised of news and developments written or contributed by citizen journalists in the Asia region. In addition, the project will provide an opportunity to enhance the quality of journalism to those working for the organization.

North Korea

Democratic Norms, Ideas and Values

Facilitating Learning and Dialogue on Reform

$195,000

To provide a platform for North Koreans in the Asia region to access information, learn, and engage in dialogue on reform. The project will provide an opportunity for participants to learn about alternative systems and envision change in their society by exploring and discussing reform models and avenues to consider.  

North Korea

Universal Rights

Providing Educational Resources to Foster Critical Thinking

$56,000

To provide educational materials that cultivate critical thinking among North Koreans. In partnership with a group of young defectors, the organization will curate and disseminate content on democratic principles for young North Koreans in the region. In addition, the organization and young defectors will develop self-study materials on the curated content to encourage the users to explore potential avenues for reform.

North Korea

Citizen Participation and Inclusion

Enhancing the Capacity of Emerging Young Defector Activists

$71,500

To empower young defectors as advocates for democratic change and human rights in North Korea. The organization will provide a capacity building opportunity for defector youth on topics related to democracy, human rights, civic engagement, and free market to foster the next generation of North Korean human rights leaders. In addition, participants will organize a conference to highlight North Korean human rights issues targeting the South Korean public and international community, and craft action items to contribute to the North Korean human rights movement.

North Korea

Citizen Participation and Inclusion

Enhancing the Capacity of Emerging Young Defector Activists

$68,661

To empower young defectors as advocates for democratic change and human rights in North Korea. The organization will provide a capacity building opportunity for defector youth on topics related to democracy, human rights, civic engagement, and free market to foster the next generation of North Korean human rights leaders. In addition, participants will organize a conference to highlight North Korean human rights issues targeting the South Korean public and international community, and craft action items to contribute to the North Korean human rights movement.