A/HRC/16/58 H. Asylum-seekers and trafficking 58. The number of asylum-seekers from the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea seeking refuge in the Republic of Korea has been steadily increasing. Up until the late 1990s, fewer than 1,000 asylum seekers from the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea had made their way to the Republic of Korea. Today, however, there are 20,000 of them sheltering in the Republic of Korea, with a record number of 2,927 arriving in 2009 alone. It is important to note that some of them have spent a number of years in third countries before finally arriving in the Republic of Korea. Hence, the quoted numbers do not fully reflect the number of persons currently leaving the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. Of these arrivals, around 77 per cent are women. 59. During his mission to the Republic of Korea, the Special Rapporteur had the opportunity to visit the Hanawon Centre, a Government-supported facility housing such asylum-seekers outside Seoul, and interview some of the new arrivals. These persons have left the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea either owing to severe human rights violations or food shortages. These interviews allowed him to gather first-hand information on the harrowing experiences the asylum-seekers have gone through, both while in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and en route to the Republic of Korea, often falling victim to people traffickers and sexual abuse. While interacting with them, the Special Rapporteur could see that the scars, such as post-traumatic stress disorders, run deep. While they are happy to be in the Republic of Korea or Japan, they worry for the safety of their loved ones back at home, fearing that the families of those who flee the country face harsh punishments. 60. The Special Rapporteur learned that several traffickers are often involved in ensuring the asylum-seekers’ entry into the Republic of Korea and Japan from the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. Women and children seeking asylum are particularly vulnerable. In several cases, before finally managing to make their way to the Republic of Korea and Japan, women end up getting married to unknown persons and having children in third countries in order to continue staying safely without being deported back to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. Such a situation has exposed women asylum-seekers to exploitation and domestic violence. Often they are too scared to approach the authorities in other, still unfamiliar countries. 61. On a positive note, on arrival to the Republic of Korea, Hanawon – a centre to assist newcomers adapt to society which has excellent facilities – now provides the services, counselling, vocational training and the education that is needed for a new arrival to adjust the society in the Republic of Korea. The Special Rapporteur is impressed with the management and facilities that are offered to the new arrivals. He recognizes that adjusting to a new society takes time and is never easy, but he is optimistic that the asylum-seekers will succeed therein. The follow-up support provided to new arrivals after they move out of Hanawon is extremely important in ensuring proper integration into society and the Special Rapporteur welcomes this support mechanism. 62. The Special Rapporteur also visited the Hangyoreh Middle High School, for adolescents from the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, which opened in 2006. Like Hanawon, Hangyoreh is an excellent facility to cater to the schooling needs of adolescents from the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. It was disheartening to learn that a number of these students are orphans. Some of them have had little or no education in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and hence take time to settle at the school and start learning. In addition, numerous students still suffer psychological problems, which invariably affect their studies. There is hope, however, as teachers are trained in dealing with such challenges, and their commitment reassures the Special Rapporteur that these children have a bright future. 14