publicizing the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women; conducting special investigations into gender discrimination in employment; and establishing criteria for assessing wage discrimination. Despite difficulties due to delays in some projects, the Commission expects that more tangible outcomes will be achieved in 2011. Improving North Korean Human Rights Following the year 2009, the Commission continued its special project on "Improving North Korean Human Rights", as well as to seek measures to improve and promote North Korean human rights. To this end, it conducted research and policy activities on human rights conditions in North Korea, human rights of North Korean defectors, human rights of South Korean prisoners of war in North Korean captivity, South Korean abductees to North Korea, and divided families. Marking an influx of more than 20,000 North Korean defectors, the Commission implemented a range of projects, including organizing discussion sessions with women's groups to seek alternatives to support the settlement of North Korean female defectors and forums on North Korean human rights; paying field visits to government agencies and North Korean human rights NGOs; and conducting overseas field investigations in China and Germany. One of the positive outcomes of these initiatives was the formation of a consensus on North Korean human rights and the establishment of an international network through cooperations and discussions on North Korean human rights. Evaluation and Future Outlook In spite of changes in the domestic and international human rights environment and numerous challenges, the Commission did its utmost to implement its plans and projects Introduction 27