By Kim Sue-young
Staff Reporter

The North Korean Human Rights Week will run from Sept. 22-26 in Seoul and Gyeonggi Province to mark the 60th anniversary of the U.N. Universal Declaration of Human Rights, organizers said Tuesday.

A range of activities, including a photo exhibition and concert, are scheduled during the period.

``I think it means a lot that local civic groups concerned with North Korean human rights actively prepared the event unlike that of 2005,'' said chief organizer Kim Yoon-tae of the North Korean Human Rights Campaign 2008 Organizing Committee. ``I hope the campaign will help turn attention to the issue.''

During the week, a memorial service will be held in the Peace Park in Imjingak, Gyeonggi Province, Sept. 24 to mourn those who died under the dictatorship of the North Korean regime.

The committee also plans to hold a concert under the title ``Love to North Korean Orphans'' at the Seoul Plaza a day later.

Local B-boy groups and singers will take part in the concert and a fund-raising campaign to help the orphans will be held, Kim said.

An international conference on human rights issues is scheduled for Sept. 26.

Officials from human rights-related groups worldwide including Human Rights Without Frontiers, Reporters Without Border and Japan's North Korean Refugee Fund are expected to attend a meeting at the Korea Press Center.

They will discuss ways to protect the human rights of social minorities, practical measures to improve North Korea's human rights and the reclusive state's food situation.

Nearly 3,000 North Koreans flee the Stalinist state a year, according to reports.

What they face after escaping is, however, human trafficking, starvation and forced repatriation, which can lead to torture and execution.

According to civic groups helping North Koreans escape the reclusive state, approximately 150 refugees are caught by Chinese police every week and forced to return to their homeland.

ksy@koreatimes.co.kr