for Human Rights (OHCHR). We held the 3rd ASEM Conference on Global Ageing and Human Rights of Older Persons and engaged other ASEM member countries in more proactively addressing the human rights issues of seniors. Through our visits to the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) and the Canadian Human Rights Commission, we secured the support of the international community for our projects of focus. We invited staff members of diverse national human rights institutions for training (seven participants from seven countries) to share the latest developments in human rights and promote understanding between national human rights institutions. We organized an international conference on the Second Optional Protocol to the Civil Rights Covenant that Korea has yet to join to encourage the discussion on the abolition of the death penalty and recommended that the government join the protocol. We further recommended that Korea join ILO Convention Nos. 87 and 98 concerning the freedom of association. We also actively responded to the review of Korea's 8th national report for the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women and the visit of the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Right to Adequate Housing. 4) Expanding and Diversifying Human Rights Initiatives Responding to North Korea's Human Rights Issues through Multiple Channels We issued a statement urging the return of South Korean citizens detained in North Korea and staged the forum to review the implementation status of the North Korean Human Rights Act in celebration of the 2nd anniversary of its enactment. Also, we recommended the reinforcement of human rights education for North Korean refugees to help them proactively exercise their rights and respond to discrimination. As a result, the Ministry of Unification announced the plan to develop human rights education materials for North Korean refugees, strengthen human rights education for them, and establish relevant courses at Hana Centers in 2019. We conducted the Factual Survey on Progress in the Personal Protection Program for North Korean Refugees in an effort to improve their human rights, expanded cooperation with the international community through the International Symposium on Human Rights Conditions of North Korea, and carried out on-site investigations overseas to uncover human rights violations committed during their escape from North Korea. 24 Introduction