U.S. House Passes Historic Human Rights Legislation

Bill sent to President for Signature

Washington, D.C., Oct. 6, 2004—Following H.R. 4011's unanimous passage in the Senate last week, the U.S. House has passed H.R. 4011, the North Korean Human Rights Act: the historic landmark legislation that extends humanitarian aid to North Korea.

"The significance of H.R. 4011 is its aim to promote human rights, assistance, democracy, and refugee aid in North Korea," said Mariam Bell, National Director of Public Policy for the Wilberforce Forum. "I applaud the House for their swift and unanimous passage of the bill and extend sincere gratitude to Congressmen Leach, Lantos, and the House Leadership for their crucial impact."

"For the sake of the Korean people, and the betterment of our world, we must stand up and demand that their God-given human dignity be honored and their lives freed," stated Charles Colson, founder of Prison Fellowship and the Wilberforce Forum. 

Bell added, "This is every bit as horrid and reprehensible as the German holocaust, make no mistake about it. ‘Never again' was the cry following the Holocaust, but the horrors of North Korea continue to mimic an Auschwitz-like savagery. Under North Korean Leader Kim Jong-il, hundreds of thousands languish in prison camps and regularly experience arbitrary and systematic torture, chemical and biological experimentation, strenuous labor, and execution - and all this must end."

The North Korea Human Rights Act takes a step closer to ending the "Auschwitz-like savagery" daily oppressing North Koreans.  Addressing one of the most egregious atrocities of our day, H.R. 4011 passed both House and Senate. Soon to become law, the North Korea Human Rights Act now goes before President George Bush for the final step: a signature.

The Wilberforce Forum is the teaching and advocacy arm of Prison Fellowship.

-30-