WHY We RESCUE
Every year, thousands of North Koreans risk their lives to escape political and economic oppression.
Even if they make it to China, they face grave danger because the Chinese government arrests and forcibly repatriates North Korean refugees. If sent back, they undergo interrogation and are at risk of extremely harsh punishments including torture, forced labor, forced abortions, and internment in a political prison camp. Even if they manage to evade the authorities in China, their illegal status forces them to work in invisible industries and leaves them vulnerable to exploitation by sex traffickers and unscrupulous employers. In these dire circumstances, many North Korean refugees do not have the resources or connections to get themselves out of China. That’s where we come in.
We rescue refugees without cost or condition, and ensure their safety and dignity on their journey to freedom.
After hearing countless stories of North Koreans who have struggled to pay or even find brokers, or were exploited and abused by brokers and other individuals while in search of freedom, we committed to providing a way for North Koreans to make it to safety and freedom without cost or condition. We have steadily garnered information about escape routes through China and Southeast Asia and have established relationships with individuals on the ground who can help us move refugees safely across borders. The free passage model ensures that refugees are treated with dignity and respect throughout the risky journey, and allows them to begin their new lives in freedom without the burden of broker loans.
THE FREE PASSAGE MODEL
*credits to LiNK's website: http://www.libertyinnorthkorea.org/rescue-refugees/