22 U.S.C. § 7817 — Special Envoy on North Korean human rights issues

(a) Special Envoy The President must appoint a special envoy for North Korean human-rights issues in the Department of State, called the “Special Envoy” in this section, with the Senate’s advice and consent. The Special Envoy should be a distinguished human-rights professional, have the rank of ambassador, and serve at the President’s pleasure. (b) Central objective The Special Envoy’s central objective is to coordinate and promote efforts to improve respect for the fundamental human rights of North Korea’s people, including, with the Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration, protecting people who fled as refugees. (c) Duties and responsibilities The Special Envoy must—(1) help formulate and carry out activities under this chapter; (2) discuss human rights with North Korean officials; (3) support international efforts to promote human rights and political freedoms in North Korea, including coordination and dialogue among the United States, the United Nations, the European Union, North Korea, and other Northeast Asian countries; (4) consult nongovernmental organizations that have tried to address human rights in North Korea; (5) make recommendations about funding activities authorized in sections 7812 and 7814 of this title; (6) review strategies to improve human-rights protection in North Korea, including technical training and exchange programs; and (7) develop an action plan to support implementation of United Nations Commission on Human Rights Resolution 2004/13. (d) Report on activities No later than 180 days after October 18, 2004, and every year afterward through 2022, the Special Envoy must send the appropriate congressional committees a report on activities undertaken during the preceding 12 months under subsection (c).