Do not miss this informative luncheon featuring Dr. Suzanne Scholte, one of the world’s leading activists in the North Korean human rights movement. She will speak at the Republican Women’s Federal Forum, Capital Hill Club, on May 11, 2017. Doors open at 11:30.
Dr. Scholte has spent the past two decades promoting the freedom and dignity of the North Korean people and is currently President of the Defense Forum Foundation, a non-profit foundation promoting a strong national defense and freedom, democracy, and human rights abroad. In 1996, Scholte began a program to host the first North Korean defectors in the United States, giving them a voice to speak out about the atrocities being committed against the people of North Korea, including the political prison camps and the horrific treatment of refugees. She has led international efforts to pressure China to end their horrific repatriation policy and has been involved in the rescue of hundreds of North Koreans escaping their country.
Currently, Scholte also serves as Chairman of the North Korea Freedom Coalition, Vice-Co Chair of the Committee for Human Rights in North Korea, and Honorary Chairman of Free North Korea Radio. In recognition of her efforts, she was awarded the 2008 Seoul Peace Prize Laureate, the 2010 Walter Judd Freedom Award, the 2013 Order of Diplomatic Service Merit Sungnye Medal from the Republic of Korea, the 2014 Sanders Peace and Social Justice Award, and a Volunteer Service (Gold) Award from the President of the United States in 2014. She was made an Honorary Citizen of Seoul in 2008.
Scholte has testified before the United States Congress and at the United Nations. As a frequent speaker at international conferences, she has also been a guest lecturer at Yonsei University (Seoul) and Koshin University (Busan) and has presented at the National Defense University, Harvard, Wellesley and Princeton, University of Virginia, University of Illinois, and numerous other colleges. Scholte is also the Chairman and Founder of the U.S.-Western Sahara Foundation.
Scholte has appeared on numerous news segments including CNN, ABC, Fox, KBS, SBS and Arirang TVand has published OPEDs in the Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, Washington Time, Chosun Ilbo, and DongA Ilbo. She is a graduate of the College of William and Mary and received an Honorary Doctorate in Education from Koshin University. Scholte resides in Falls Church, Virginia with her husband, Chadwick R. Gore, and is the mother of three sons, Chester (29); Christian (26) and James (16).