Whenever people talk about human rights, they put the rights of the child first. This is because protecting the children’s rights is a very important matter related to the development of a country and nation and the future of mankind.

The DPRK puts it forward as the consistent policy of the state to attach importance to the children and give priority to the protection of their rights and interests. The state always pays attention to the growth and development of children and takes all steps to ensure all children fully exercise their rights and grow up happily.

A well-knit production and supply system of children’s nutritious foods has been established to supply dairy products and other nutritious foods regularly to all the children across the country free of charge.

It is also the consistent policy of the Workers’ Party of Korea and the state to supply school uniforms and things to the students across the country at state expense.

In our country the universal 12-year compulsory education is enforced free of charge to bring up the younger generation to be excellent pillars. There are schoolchildren’s palaces, children’s camps, halls and other extracurricular educational bases throughout the country where students can cultivate their hopes and talents to the full.

The Okryu Children’s Hospital in Pyongyang has excellent medical and treatment facilities, as well as classrooms for children who are in hospital, indoor and outdoor rest areas and even a helipad.

There are baby homes, orphanages, primary and secondary schools for orphans equipped with nursing and upbringing and educational facilities in different parts of the country.

The work for rising generations is a crucial work of the Party and the state.

Meetings of the Korean Children’s Union are held as a national event and special planes are flying for the KCU delegates.

When several areas of North Phyongan, Jagang and Ryanggang provinces were hit by floods several months ago, measures were taken to bring to Pyongyang more than 15 400 flood victims including preschool children, students and mothers of children so that the Party and the government could take full responsibility for their health and life. In particular, the April 25 Hostel in Pyongyang provided a temporary study space for children and students in the afflicted areas and a temporary mobile educational group was formed involving teachers of primary and middle schools and preschool educational institutions in Pyongyang.

Until the flood-hit areas are rehabilitated, children in the stricken areas are studying to their heart’s content in Pyongyang, being provided with new school uniforms, shoes and other things. They will never forget the period of their stay in Pyongyang when they live a happy life, being treated as special guests everywhere.

All these are the results of the noble outlook of the Workers’ Party of Korea on the rising generations and the future that it should be the mode of advance and development of the Korean revolution to devote more sincerity to the children in hard times and vigorously advance towards the future of communism on the strength of this love.

Under such state benefits our children are growing up to be pillars of the future who will glorify prosperous Korea, being highly regarded as the king of the country.

Kwon Jong Ok, deputy department director of the Central Committee of the Socialist Women’s Union of Korea