The Voice of America says UN Special Rapporteur on North Korean Human Rights, Marzuki Darusman, urged neighboring nations of North Korea to not repatriate escapees from the North.

The VOA said that in a regular report submitted to the U.N. Human Rights Council last week, Darusman said many North Korean escapees are being forcibly sent home. He explained that when they are sent back they may face forced labor, torture, and imprisonment. He added their families may also be subject to the same punishment.

Darusman said he heard from a South Korean diplomat and officials of South Korean civic groups that defenses along the North Korea-China border were strengthened last year. He said the North’s neighboring countries must protect all North Korean escapees in line with international accords on refugees.