A/HRC/10/18 page 12 38. Over the past year, the situation facing asylum-seekers has become more stringent owing to the above-mentioned factors. More restrictions have been imposed on departures from the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and entry into neighbouring countries. There are reports of more severe sanctions imposed on those who seek to leave the country and also those who are forcibly returned to it, despite indications of a more lenient attitude on the part of the authorities several years ago. Some sources report a “shoot on sight” policy with regard to those who seek to leave the country clandestinely, and violence used against pregnant women forcibly returned to the country. Instead of the previous practice of imposing fines, prison sentences are now being applied. 39. Recent movements have been facilitated by human smugglers and traffickers, who often prey on asylum-seekers, who are predominantly women. The background of those on the move and the ensuing complications may also be different: on the one hand, there are those who stay for a long period in a neighbouring country and other first-asylum countries before moving to the Republic of Korea as the final destination; on the other, there are those who transit only briefly in first-asylum countries before reaching the final destination country. From information received, the former group is often more traumatized than the latter, as they have to endure a myriad of abuses for a long time before reaching the destination country, and may thus need long-term support. More consideration should also be given to the possibility of family reunions. E. Specific groups 40. While women who belong to the elite are well provided for, the others are subjected to untold suffering owing to the stifling nature of the regime. While the Constitution guarantees equal rights for men and women, women’s access to key decision-making positions lags behind that of men. It was recently reported that women hold only 4.5 per cent of key positions in the Central Committee of the ruling party.10 41. Women constitute a large proportion of those involved in the economic sector, particularly in commercial and informal activities. They have been particularly affected by the State’s reassertion of control over its population in the economic sphere, such as prohibition of women under a certain age from trading and the closure of markets. 42. Violence, neglect, abuse and exploitation pose a continuing concern for women at home, outside the home, within the country and across borders. The issue of sexual violence at home has not been dealt with adequately, while women who are on the move are often abused and exploited for many purposes. There is rampant human smuggling and trafficking where women and other groups seek to leave the country. A high proportion uses the services of intermediaries to leave the country, with the promise of payment to the intermediaries upon arrival in the final asylum country. Some fall prey to human trafficking and end up in forced labour, prostitution and forced marriage. 43. Currently women constitute the majority of asylum-seekers. They are at times accompanied by children, and many seek to reunite with spouses and families in the final asylum country. Over the past year, in various South-East Asian countries, some were threatened with