HanVoice

HanVoice is a non-profit organization in Canada advocating for improved human rights in North Korea. "Han" describes a collective feeling of suffering and resilience. Central to its mission is the belief that Canada and Canadians can and should emerge as leading advocates on the human rights issue and ensure that the voices of the North Korean people are rightfully heard. To this end, HanVoice is committed to building a diverse network of advocates to outlast the human rights crisis in North Korea.

HanVoice
Formation2007
TypeNGO, Advocacy Group
HeadquartersToronto, Ontario, Canada
Websitewww.hanvoice.ca

Areas of Work

Policy Advocacy: Advocating for Canadian legislative action
  • HanVoice advocates for a Canadian solution to resettle vulnerable North Koreans in transit. HanVoice members have testified 6 times on Parliament Hill, hosted meetings with over 200 federal policymakers, and given over 70 interviews on 25 news outlets. HanVoice and its members are regularly consulted as the leading expert and organization on North Korean issues in Canada.

Key Dates
  • 2014: The House Committee on International Human Rights passed a unanimous motion recommending HanVoice's proposal.
  • 2015: The Conservative Party of Canada pledged to adopt HanVoice's proposal as a part of their election platform.
  • 2016: The Senate Committee on Human Rights passed a motion recommending HanVoice's proposal.
  • 2018: HanVoice held a 3-day Lobby Day in Ottawa with 30 students meeting with more than 20 federal policymakers, receiving support letters from every meeting.
  • 2019: HanVoice held a 3-day Lobby Day in Toronto with 40 students meeting with more than 15 parliamentarians and politicians.

HanVoice Advocacy Program: Engaging young Canadians to act
  • HanVoice has engaged over 2,000 Canadian students in 10 years. It has active 9 university chapters across the country. Through HanVoice's program, young emerging Canadian leaders gain exposure to political and civic engagement for social change, and tools to become effective advocates. Through HanVoice's program, chapter student members can gain experience in grassroots organizing, become more effective advocates, learn more about issues surrounding North Korean human rights advocacy, develop as young professionals, and emerge as confident human rights advocates.

Key Dates
  • 2009: HanVoice established its first student chapter at the University of Toronto. Since then, it has grown to 9 chapters with over 300 student advocates across Canada. Each year, the chapters hold a wide array of seminars, workshops, and events to educate their local community about the human rights situation in North Korea.
  • 2018: HanVoice began to engage, empower, and equip its chapters to advocate for policy change. In fall of 2018, 30 students from 6 chapters arrived in Ottawa. They spent 3 days in intensive advocacy training. They met with over 20 parliamentarians and received letters from each meeting.

HanVoice Chapter Locations
  • University of Toronto
  • York University
  • Queens University
  • McMaster University
  • University of Ottawa
  • Waterloo University
  • Western University
  • McGill University
  • University of British Columbia

HanVoice Pioneers Program: Empowering North Korean voices
  • Each year, HanVoice invites emerging North Korean leaders to participate in our 6-month program as “Pioneers.” Pioneers have met with federal policymakers including the Prime Minister, testified before Parliament, and appeared in 12 interviews on media. For two months, the Pioneers receive training in advocacy, leadership, and ESL. Afterwards, they participate in a 4-month internship with a parliamentarian in Ottawa where they have the chance to apply these skillsets.
  • Through the program, the Pioneers can learn how to harness personal narratives to advocate for change, enhance their English-language proficiency, support the grassroots movement, gain exposure to the "halls of power" and leadership, and ultimately emerge as human rights advocates.
  • As part of the program, our Pioneers have met with federal ministers, politicians and parliamentarians, and the Prime Minister. They have testified before the House and the Senate, and have also appeared numerous times on national media. They have travelled across the country, putting a human face to this movement, and educating Canadians about the ongoing human rights crisis in their country.
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