Empowering North Korean Refugees

I'm Casey Lartigue, co-founder of Freedom Speakers International (FSI).

In the coming months, we have several events lined up to engage with Harvard University students, alumni, faculty, and staff.

• March 2, 2024, Harvard Graduate School of Education (HGSE) Alumni of Color Conference (AOCC), 3:30-4:30 pm
  • FSI Workshop led by Casey Lartigue and joined by Eunkoo Lee and E Jisung.
• March 27, Harvard Club of Broward County
  • Casey Lartigue's book talk about Songmii Han's memoir Greenlight to Freedom.
• March 28, Harvard Club of Naples
  • Casey Lartigue's speech addressing the question, "Why hasn't there been a revolution in North Korea?"
• April 13, Freedom Speakers International 19th "I am from North Korea" English Speech Contest (19th edition)
  • Seven North Korean refugees will give original speeches in English based on the contest theme, "I am from North Korea."

But if you'd prefer not to be associated with Harvard University, that's perfectly fine! Feel free to contact me, and we can collaborate to expand FSI's by activating your preferred network.

Freedom Speakers International (FSI) will soon be releasing two books by North Korean refugee Author Fellows.

Eunseo Jang's book The Girl with Black Makeup. is scheduled to be released as an e-book via Amazon on March 31 US ET.

Your support will help FSI:

* market Ms. Jang's memoir.

* cover some of the production costs.

* get your name in the paperback version to be released during the summer.

Please donate monthly here to support the marketing of the book or make a one-time donation. Please read about Eunseo and her forthcoming memoir at the fundraiser set up by FSI co-founder Casey Lartigue.

I have joined others on the front lines of protests against the repatriation of North Korean refugees. Today, I am turning that protest into a plea for action by Western countries to be more welcoming of North Korean refugees. As you read the information below, keep in mind there are two things you can do.

1) Sign the petition.

2) Make a donation so we can have funds to send a North Korean refugee to speak at Congressional/Parliamentarian sessions.

North Korea is known for its oppressive regime, where human rights are routinely violated and freedoms are non-existent. The United Nations Commission of Inquiry on Human Rights in North Korea has reported widespread abuses including extermination, murder, enslavement, torture, imprisonment, rape and forced abortions (UN Report A/HRC/25/63). 

Despite these horrifying conditions, many Western nations remain hesitant to grant asylum to North Korean refugees. They applaud them for escaping, then tell them to get in the long immigration line. 

According to Human Rights Watch's 2020 World Report on North Korea's human rights situation - an estimated 30-50% of approximately 10k-30k undocumented North Koreans living in China were forcibly sent back over the past decade despite facing serious risks upon return.

This petition calls upon Western nations - countries that champion human rights and democracy - to open their doors wide for these desperate souls seeking refuge from oppression. Let us not turn our backs on them but instead extend our hands in aid.

Please join me by signing this petition urging Western governments to offer asylum and protection for those fleeing from one of the world's most repressive regimes – let us stand together as a beacon of hope for those who need it most.

Many appeals call on China to stop repatriating North Korean refugees. I support those and encourage you also to do so. This petition is focused on Western countries and democracies in particular. After you sign the comment, please mention which country you would like to encourage to be more welcoming of North Korean refugees.

Here's how you can help:

1) Sign the petition. https://www.change.org/locomotion

2) Make a donation to support this campaign. Last year we had a last-minute opportunity to send a North Korean refugee to participate in a hearing in Washington, D.C. There weren't any North Korean refugees testifying at the hearing. It was a last-minute request and we didn't have funds allocated for it so we didn't move forward. We would like to use the funds from this fundraiser to send a North Korean refugee the next time there is an opportunity to speak about repatriation and encourage Western countries to open their doors.

We estimate the following costs for a possible five-day stay.

$1,400 round-trip airfare

$700 hotel

$700 meals and transportation

I have spoken with several North Korean refugees who advocate for repatriation and have embraced this campaign.

Late last year, the Chinese government repatriated 500 to 600 North Koreans back to North Korea. There have been reports that there could be another 1,000 that could be repatriated at any time. If this fundraiser is successful, then we will be prepared to send at least one North Korean refugee to give speeches or testify about the importance of Western governments being more open to North Korean refugees.

* * *

Here is the link to a Korea Times column I wrote calling on Western countries to open their doors to North Korean refugees.

Here are some statistics from that column:

USA

• About 220 North Korean refugees have legally found refuge.
• 107 out of 238 North Korean applicants from 2004 to 2010 abandoned their asylum applications to the USA because of paperwork and delays.

Canada

• Canada’s 2016 census recorded that 970 North Koreans were residing in the country.
• By 2021, that number had plummeted to 775. 
• By 2018, Canadian authorities initiated the deportation of 242 North Koreans and were in the process of deporting an additional 512 after discovering many had already obtained South Korean citizenship before moving to Canada.

United Kingdom

• More than one-third of the 1,300 asylum applications by North Korean refugees to the U.K. government were rejected between 2003 and 2018.

Belgium

• The Diplomat reported in 2015 that Belgium rejected 99 out of 126 asylum claims.

Netherlands

• In 2015, it rejected all 128 applications from North Korean refugees.

France

• In 2015, it rejected all 19 applications from North Korean refugees.

If you have more up-to-date numbers then please share them with me and I will update them here.

Support FSI: GoFundMe, PayPal, FSI bank account, FSI crowd-funding, Facebook fundraiser, Stripe, 우리은행: 1005-204-445516

Let Them In petition 

#NorthKoreanRefugees, #GrantAsylum, #OpenDoors, #WesternNations, #HumanRights, #StopRepatriation, #ChangeOrgPetition, #GlobalSolidarity, #AsylumForNKRefugees, #CaseyLartigue, #케이시라티그

"FSI is doing the work that South Koreans should be doing." That's what many South Koreans say when they learn about Freedom Speakers International's work empowering North Korean refugees with public speaking in English.

Some people say that South Koreans don't care about North Korean refugees, but more South Koreans have been supporting Freedom Speakers International.

If you are not Korean then you can help inspire them even more!

1) FSI co-founder Casey Lartigue has been named an Honorary Citizen of Seoul for his work with North Korean refugees and he has won other awards. When South Koreans hear about this they say they would also like to help. But one man is not enough!

2) Some of our South Korean supporters say they are inspired when they hear about non-Koreans around the world volunteering, donating, and fundraising to support North Korean refugees. Your donation and fundraising can inspire South Koreans to support FSI!

3) Two South Koreans have pledged generous year-end donations. They both learned about our previous Matching Donations and pledged a total of $8,000 this month. They say it is a great way to raise money. Any amount you donate can help us reach the goal.

Donate $5, $10 or $25. If we have many people make smaller donations then we are confident our South Korean Matching Donors will follow through on their pledges. So yes, donate what you can. Any amount will inspire our donors.

This donation is tax-deductible in South Korea or the USA to the full extent of the law.

Your donation can:

• help keep our programming free for North Korean refugees
• help us chip away at the Matching Donation Challenge
• inspire South Koreans to support us.