A coalition of lawmakers established to defend the human rights of North Korean escapees has urged third countries to send them safely to South Korea.

The International Parliamentarians' Coalition for North Korean Refugees and Human Rights (IPCNKR) held its eighth general meeting on Capitol Hill on Monday. The lawmakers adopted a joint statement urging third countries, including China, not to punish North Korean escapees for illegally entering other nations. It also called on the U.N. to send a coordinator to China for a for human rights investigation pertaining to North Koreans there.

The statement further urged the Chinese government to stop the repatriation of children, especially North Korean orphans, since it is a party to the Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees and the Convention on the Rights of the Child. It also demanded China provide the children with suitable support and protection.

Lawmakers from some 30 countries took part in Monday's meeting, including South Korea, the U.S., Japan, Thailand, and Malaysia.