A group of South Korean lawmakers have held a rally in front of the United Nations (UN) Office at Geneva, urging the Chinese government to stop the forced repatriation of North Korean escapees.

Some of the lawmakers who took part in the rally Wednesday were former National Assembly Speaker Kim Hyung-o, Saenuri Party lawmaker Ahn Hyoung-hwan and Liberty Forward Party legislator Park Sun-young. The group also called for the international community’s cooperation in addressing the repatriation issue.

The group marched to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, holding picket signs and shouting slogans.

They then headed toward the Permanent Mission of China to the UN Office at Geneva to deliver a letter of protest, but police blocked their entry.

The lawmakers are visiting Geneva to raise awareness over the repatriation of North Korean escapees.