The UN Commission of Inquiry report on human rights in North Korea, released earlier this year, was a courageous statement for taking on China’s forced repatriation of North Koreans, a human rights advocate told NK News.

Unlike previous UN reports, this year’s showed no fear of Chinese withdrawal of support for other UN programs, said Roberta Cohen, co-chair of the Committee for Human Rights in North Korea.

Cohen believes that the COI report “sends a message throughout Asia and the world that forced repatriations are not acceptable practices” and has brought greater attention to the North Korean refugee issue