Situation of human rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea

Condemnatory

Yes

Analysis

• The resolution strongly condemns North Korea for "long-standing and ongoing systematic, widespread and gross human rights violations" which it says may constitute crimes against humanity.
• The resolution also criticizes the government of North Korea for prioritizing development of nuclear weapons over the welfare of its people.
• In addition, it extends the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on human rights in North Korea to which North Korea objects.
• Moreover, the resolution was adopted under Item 4, the primary framework for addressing country-specific human rights situations, signaling criticism.

Main Sponsors

European Union, Australia

Vote

Consensus

Key Praise

• "Recalling with appreciation the participation of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea in the fourth cycle of the universal periodic review…"

Key Criticism

• "Expressing its deep concern about the systematic, widespread and gross human rights violations in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, about the pervasive culture of impunity and lack of accountability for such violations and about the conclusions of the High Commissioner, the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and the commission of inquiry that there are reasonable grounds to believe that crimes against humanity have been committed in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea."
• "Condemns in the strongest terms the long-standing and ongoing systematic, widespread and gross human rights violations and other human rights abuses committed in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, and expresses again its grave concern at the detailed findings of the commission of inquiry on human rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea in its report…including: (a) The denial of the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion, including the freedom to adopt a religion or belief, and of the rights to freedom of opinion, expression, and association… (b) Discrimination based on the songbun system, which classifies people on the basis of State-assigned social class and birth and also includes consideration of political opinions and religion… (e) Violations of the right to life and acts of extermination, murder, enslavement, torture and other cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment, imprisonment, rape and other grave forms of sexual and gender-based violence and persecution on any grounds… (h) The enforced and involuntary disappearance of persons, including those from other States Members of the United Nations, on a large scale and as a matter of State policy, by arrest, detention or abduction against their will…"
• "Urges the Government of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to initiate comprehensive institutional, legal and policy reforms to improve the human rights situation, to acknowledge its crimes, abuses and human rights violations, in and outside of the country, and to take immediately all steps necessary to end all such crimes, abuses and violations…"
• "Reiterates its deep concern at the findings of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights concerning the situation of citizens of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea forcibly returned to the country and subjected to sanctions, including internment, torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, sexual and gender-based violence, enforced disappearance or the death penalty…"
• "Decides to extend the mandate of Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea…"