In the DPRK women are enjoying an independent and creative life to the full in all aspects of social life with the same rights as men.

They are free to take part in election activities by exercising rights to elect and to be elected, and engage themselves in the work of the people’s government as its masters.

Since the election of the members of the provincial, city and county people’s committees on November 3, 1946, the first of its kind in the history of the country, women have exercised equal rights to men in voting.

They are guaranteed freedom and rights of all socio-political activities including speech, the press, assembly and demonstration.

All of them belong to political organizations led by the Workers’ Party of Korea and the state, and they work to implement the lines and policies of the government.

Not a few of them hold important positions in the Party and government organs as well as the working people’s and social organizations.

Like men, all women have access to free education put in place across the country. The well-organized 12-year compulsory education system and the study-while-you-work education system enable women and other people to receive education. Women technicians and specialists amount to well over one million among millions of intellectuals at present.

Not only working women but also housewives are entitled to enjoy the benefits of the socialist healthcare system.

Particularly, special care is given to nursing mothers and newborns.

At the modern Pyongyang Maternity Hospital women have access to birth attendance based on latest sci-tech achievements, and they have their unknown diseases found and cured during hospitalization.

The Breast Tumour Institute, inaugurated on October 8, 2012 at the Pyongyang Maternity Hospital, plays a pivotal role in treating women’s diseases. It boasts a range of diagnostic and treatment facilities such as lacteal gland CT room, X-ray room, anticancer treatment room, physiotherapy room, ultrasonic wave room and operating theatre, as well as scores of sickrooms.

In addition, hospitals at different levels in all parts of the country have an obstetrical and gynaecological department that registers all pregnant women in the relevant regions, gives them medical assistance, helps their childbirth and takes charge of their postpartum health care.

The average life expectancy of women continues to increase thanks to the socialist healthcare system.

Special measures have been taken to protect and treat working women preferentially.

Women are forbidden from being assigned to the sectors that may have adverse effects on their health and do not suit their constitutional characteristics. It is not allowed to force nursing mothers or pregnant women to work at night, married women to work overtime or on holidays and women pregnant for over four months to move out for itinerant work or on a business trip.

When triplets and quadruplets are born, they are provided with clothing, quilts and various kinds of foodstuffs gratis and raised at the relevant baby home until they reach the age of four at state expense.

A working woman with an infant under 12 months is allowed to have time off for breastfeeding within her working hours, and a woman in her six months of pregnancy to work with less burden until she has the maternity leave.

Relevant public health organs do regular physical examinations and health checkups for all women workers to protect their health.

Thus, the Korean women are taking an active part in social activities free from any worries under the socialist system while enjoying love and respect at home and in society.

Kim Hyok