National Human Rights Commission of the Republic of Korea ③ Encouraging the International Community’s Interest in and Cooperation with North Korean Human Rights Issues The Commission met the Ambassadors to Korea of the EU, Germany, and Indonesia as well as other important international figures visiting Korea and discussed mutual cooperation and understanding for the promotion of North Korean human rights while strengthening the inter-relationship with the international community. It also organized gatherings with important international figures engaged with human rights in North Korea including Michael Kirby, Chair of the UN COI, Marzuki Darusman, the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the DPRK, Frank Heinrich, member of the German Bundestag, and Julie De Rivero, Geneva Director of Human Rights Watch, enhancing cooperative networks and contributing to making North Korean human rights issues an important part of the agenda of the international community. 4) Promoting Domestic Cooperation ① The North Korean Human Rights Forum Since May 2008, the Commission has operated the North Korean Human Rights Forum whose members include experts on North Korean human rights from academia, the legal community, media, and civil society organizations. The Forum provides a venue for the systematic development of policies on North Korean human rights by promoting communication about major issues and expanding the horizon of their awareness. It has also strengthened the cooperative network with experts on North Korean human rights and encouraged social discussion of various human rights issues. In 2014, a total of four meetings (once every quarter) were organized. The meetings Chapter 1. Improvement of Laws, Regulations, Institutions, Policies and Practices ▪▪▪ 73