EU Presidency Statement - Human Rights in the DPRK

EU Presidency Introductory Statement by the UK Mission to the UN, on behalf of the European Union, on the SITUATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN THE DEMOCRATIC PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF KOREA, UN General Assembly Third Committee, New York

On behalf of the European Union and co-sponsors (Albania, Australia, Canada, Croatia, Japan, Norway, Romania, FYROM, Turkey and the US), I have the honour to introduce under agenda item 71 (c), the draft resolution entitled the "Situation of human rights in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea" contained in document A/60/C.3/L.48.

[In addition, this resolution has also been co-sponsored by the following:…]

The European Union welcomes the constructive developments outlined in the report submitted to the General Assembly by the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Vitit Muntarbhorn; notably the examination by the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women and the recent visit of the Committee of the Rights of the Child to the DPRK.

However, the EU remains deeply concerned by the human rights situation in the DPRK, including the continued reports of systematic, widespread and grave violations of human rights perpetuated by the absence of due process and rule of law; sanctions on DPRK citizens who have been returned from abroad; and severe restrictions on freedoms of thought, conscience, religion, opinion and expression. The EU is also very concerned by the Government of the DPRK's continued refusal to cooperate with, or recognise the mandate of, the Special Rapporteur.

This is the first time that a resolution on the situation of human rights in the DPRK has been tabled at the UN General Assembly. For the past three years, the EU has tabled a resolution on this issue at the Commission on Human Rights. The most recent CHR resolution - 2005/11 - urged the General Assembly to take up the question of human rights in the DPRK in the absence of any improvement in the human rights situation in the country, and if the Government failed to extend cooperation to the Special Rapporteur.

The continued non-compliance by the Government of the DPRK with the provisions of these resolutions requires that the General Assembly address this issue, and we thus urge member states to support the resolution.

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