Saltar al contenido principal

Situation of human rights in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea - Report of the Secretary-General (A/71/439)

Países
RPDC
Fuentes
UN GA
Fecha de publicación
Origen
Ver original

Summary

The present report is submitted pursuant to General Assembly resolutions 70/172 and 69/188 on the situation of human rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. It provides an overview of the human rights issues in the country from September 2015 to August 2016 and of the Government’s engagement with the United Nations in that regard. While it is difficult to obtain up-to-date and comprehensive information about human rights developments in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, the information gathered reveals a continuing pattern of serious human rights violations. The report provides recommendations to the Government of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and the international community to address these endemic issues and to improve the situation of human rights in the country.

I. Introduction

1. The present report is submitted pursuant to General Assembly resolutions 70/172 and 69/188 on the situation of human rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and covers the period from September 2015 to August 2016. It provides an overview of the human rights situation in the country, based on the work conducted by the field-based structure of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Seoul. It also provides an overview of the activities of the United Nations in relation to the human rights situation in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and of the Government’s engagement with the United Nations in that regard.

2. The report provides an update on human rights issues in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea since the previous report of the Secretary-General to the General Assembly at its seventieth session (A/70/393), namely on the rights to life, liberty and security of the person, and to a fair trial; the right to freedom of movement; the right to freedom of expression and access to information; the issue of international abductions and separated families; the rights to food and health; and the rights of children, persons with disabilities and women. It remained difficult to obtain comprehensive and up-to-date information on those issues owing to the continued lack of access to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and continued severe restrictions on seeking and receiving independent information. Thus, in most instances, it has not been possible to verify information on individual cases. However, the information gathered confirms persisting patterns of serious human rights violations that require prompt action.

3. The report contains recommendations addressed to the Government of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and the international community and aimed at improving the human rights situation in the country, and reiterates the Secretary-General’s call for the Government’s constructive engagement in that regard.