EU Statement – United Nations 3rd Committee: Introduction of draft resolution L. 40 on the situation on human rights in the DPRK

The European Union and Japan, on behalf of all co-sponsors, have the honour to address this Committee before taking action on the draft resolution entitled “Situation of human rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea”, contained in document L.40*.

The text in front of us is the result of a very good collaboration between the EU and Japan, the two facilitators of this resolution, and last year’s co-sponsors who have contributed valuable suggestions to present the human rights situation in the DPRK in the most accurate way possible. We would like to thank all those who have supported the EU and Japan on this text so far, and kindly invite other delegations who share the same concerns to join the group of this year’s co-sponsors.

Mr Chair,

The human rights situation in the DPRK continues to be of great concern. Serious violations of human rights are committed in a widespread and systematic way, with disregard for international law, and they are too often overlooked due to the headline-grabbing missile and nuclear  issue.

Our resolution tries to address these human rights violations while at the same time acknowledging the latest developments and steps taken by the DPRK with regard to the human rights situation in the country.

It is noteworthy that the DPRK ratified the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and that it allowed a visit by the Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities this year in May. It is worrisome though that the accepted recommendations of the UPR, and the recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry are still not implemented. Visits by other Mandate Holders continue to be blocked. We remain concerned about the inhumane conditions in detention camps, the limitations to the freedom of movement and to the right to information, the retaliations against refugees and asylum seekers returned to the DPRK, the food insecurity and the exploitation of workers sent abroad, to mention some of the human rights violations that we highlight in the resolution.

In this year’s text we want to draw the attention also to reports on abuses and violations committed against non DPRK citizens, inside and outside the country and we call for the provision of consular protections in accordance with the Vienna Convention for non DPRK citizens detained in the DPRK. We also welcome the adoption of capacity building measures as a follow up to the recommendations made by the group of independent experts on accountability.

We believe that this resolution is important and we hope that it will contribute to further raise international awareness about the human rights situation in the country.

We wish to reiterate our call on the government of the DPRK to take the accepted recommendations of the UPR, and the recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry seriously and to act upon them, to stop the human rights violations and to bring the perpetrators to justice. We also express our sincere hope that the DPRK will extend its full cooperation to the Special Rapporteur and other special procedures of the Human Rights Council and that it will continue reinforcing its cooperation with humanitarian agencies.

In conclusion, Mr Chair, let me re-emphasise that it remains our sincere hope that the government of the DPRK will consider engaging more with the international community and take action on the issues highlighted in this resolution.

I thank you.