A/HRC/25/CRP.1 and foremost is the duty to “worship the Kim family”. Second is the duty to “arm the people” with revolutionary ideas. Third is the duty to “secure the nation” through the monitoring and assessment of loyalty. Fourth is the duty to “build the socialist economy” by mobilizing select groups of people to carry out construction and related works.150 • Once a member of the Children’s Union, one witness spoke of striving to be a model student, and to be exemplary in her studies and in extra-curricular activities. She and other students were also expected to contribute towards their school by donating materials such as used paper and used vinyl paper.151 • Another witness spoke of the Children’s Union members being engaged in certain activities such as chanting slogans of the Workers’ Party of Korea and beating drums on the street to secure public attention. They would also be asked to carry out activities aimed at generating income for the state as well as to chant slogans during election periods.152 • One witness who was one of the officials for the Women’s Democratic Union explained that they are responsible for, among others, ensuring that lectures are administered for its members on Juche and revolutionary history, as well as on internal politics and foreign affairs. Members are also assigned to attain goods which may be sold to earn foreign currency. For example, in one year members are expected to deliver one gram of gold, two adult hares’ skin and two dogs’ skin. These would be collected and sent to the central level of the Party.153 185. A major activity undertaken by the Youth League is to mobilize its members and administer “volunteer” labour units to carry out public construction works. It is expected that ordinary DPRK citizens, aged from 17 years old onwards, would be mobilized and enlisted into groups to work on various construction projects building roads or public structures. At the level of a county, only a group of 1,000 would be required; 20,000 at the provincial level and as many as 100,000 people would be necessary for projects in a large city such as Pyongyang.154 Those selected to perform these duties reportedly consider it an honour to serve in this way. Such participation is viewed as one of the stepping stones to improving one’s chances of becoming a member of the Workers’ Party of Korea or being accepted for further study. 186. Refusing participation in these activities does not appear to be an option as doing so would reduce one’s prospects for social and political mobility and leave a black mark on one’s dossier.155 In addition to a registration system where all DPRK citizens are issued an identity card which they keep in their possession, there is another record system maintained by the Government with respect to each individual which has direct impact on one’s ability to succeed and advance in society, and which the individual has no right to access.156 (e) Ubiquity of propaganda 187. Citizens in the DPRK are constantly exposed to ubiquitous state propaganda. The Propaganda and Agitation Department within the Central Committee of the Workers’ Party 150 151 152 153 154 155 156 TAP006. TAP015. TLC035. TAP007. TAP006, TAP009. TAP008, TAP009. This is explained further in section IV.B. 51

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