Panel discussion on “The Human Rights Situation in North Korea”
ECOSOC Chamber, UN Headquarters
22 October 2014
13:15 - 14:30
"북한 인권상황"에 관한 공개토론회
UN 본부 - 경제사회이사회 회의장
2014. 10. 22.
13:15 - 14:30
Co-organizers: Jacob Blaustein Institute for the Advancement of Human Rights, Human Rights Watch, the United States Committee for Human Rights in North Korea, and the Citizens’ Alliance for North Korean Human Rights
Co-sponsors: Permanent Missions of Australia, Botswana and Panama,
공동주최: 제이콥 블라우스틴 인권증진재단, 휴먼라이츠워치, 미국 북한인권위원회, 북한인권시민연합
공동후원: 호주 대표부, 보츠와나 대표부, 파나마 대표부
[Panelists/토론자]
Michael KIRBY, former Chair of the Commission of Inquiry (COI) on the DPRK (March 2013 - March 2014)
Testimonies of former North Korean political prisoners and refugees (Ms. KIM Hyesook, Mr. JUNG Gwang-il)
[English Interpretation/영어 통역]
[Audio: Original (Floor)/음성: 원음]
http://downloads.unmultimedia.org/radio/library/ltd/mp3/2014/1215823.mp3
[Excerpts/발췌]
http://www.unmultimedia.org/tv/unifeed/2014/10/un-north-korea-human-rights
The Chair of the Inquiry on Human Rights in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) said he read "every word" of the human rights report issued by the government of the DPRK and they accept universal human rights, "but to accept it and implement it, it must accord with our (DPRK) decision and our will."
[Permanent Mission of Panama to the United Nations - News]
There are no translations available.
Panamá participa en panel de discusión sobre La Situación de los Derechos Humanos en Corea del Norte
22 de Octubre de 2014. Reafirmando el compromiso de Panamá con la promoción y protección de los Derechos Humanos mediante el diálogo constructivo y la cooperación dio inicio a su intervención en la apertura de este panel de discusión la Representante Permanente de Panamá ante las Naciones Unidas, Embajadora Laura Flores. La Embajadora destacó la preocupación de su delegación por los hallazgos destacados en el informe de la Comisión de Investigación sobre los derechos humanos en Corea del Norte, y expresó su apoyo a las intenciones de que el informe pueda propiciar un diálogo que tenga como objetivo liberar la tensa situación que persiste en esta parte del mundo.
Durante su intervención, la Embajadora reconoció algunas acciones positivas que ha tomado el Gobierno de Corea del Norte respecto a la posición del Gobierno sobre las recomendaciones formuladas en el Examen Periódico Universal, asi como también la reciente firma de la Convención sobre los Derechos de las Personas con Discapacidad. La Embajadora enfatizó que la Comunidad Internacional debe estar presente para fortalecer sus esfuerzos coordinados y de esta manera lograr la aplicación de las resoluciones y convenciones y apoyar a los demas países a alcanzarlo.
En el Panel de Discusión también participó el Presidente de la Comisión de Investigación sobre los Derechos Humanos en Corea del Norte, Sr. Michael Kirby, quien durante su intervención manifestó las graves violaciones que se vienen cometiendo en el país. El Presidente de la Comisión recomendó referir el caso a la Corte Penal Internacional.
Se contó con la participación de dos testigos nacionales quienes relataron su testimonio sobre las condiciones deplorables en las que vivieron durante el tiempo que estuvieron en Corea del Norte.
Por su parte, los Embajadores de Botswana y Australia hicieron un llamado a los Estados Miembros a copatrocinar y apoyar la resolución presentada por la Unión Europea y Japón dentro de la Tercera Comisión de la Asamblea General sobre la Situación de los Derechos Humanos en Corea del Norte, e instaron una vez más al país asiático a comprometerse con la Comunidad Internacional a través de un diálogo más constructivo.
[Citizens' Alliance for North Korean Human Rights - Facebook Page/북한인권시민연합 - 페이스북 페이지]
Crimes against humanity in North Korea discussed at the UN General Assembly. Delegation from the DPRK unexpectedly participates
New York, NY - The Citizens' Alliance for North Korean Human Rights (NKHR) and other international NGOs co-organized an event at the United Nations General Assembly focusing on crimes against humanity in North Korea. Co-sponsored by the governments of Australia, Botswana and Panama, the event featured remarks by Justice Michael Kirby, former Chair of the UN Commission of Inquiry (COI) for the DPRK, and testimonies by two victims of North Korea’s political prison camps, Ms. Kim Hyesook and Mr. Jung Gwang-il.
“The fact that, for the first time, countries from Africa and South America co-sponsored a human rights event on North Korea at the UN sends a strong message to the North Korean regime that its crimes against humanity are now a truly global issue,” said Joanna Hosaniak, Deputy Director General of NKHR, who heads the NKHR delegation of NKHR in New York. “During NKHR’s individual meetings with numerous permanent missions to the UN, representing countries from around the world, several states that typically abstained in the past from voting on human rights resolutions regarding North Korea indicated that they would shift their position in favor of such resolutions, including the resolution currently being considered by the General Assembly," she added.
A nine-member delegation from the DPRK also, unexpectedly, took part in the meeting, marking the DPRK’s first ever appearance at an official UN side event focused on its human rights record. Following the comments by the panel, the DPRK delegation initiated a heated debate as it questioned Justice Kirby about the methodology and findings of the COI. It was the first time that the DPRK directed questions to any member of the COI. The DPRK accused the COI of manipulating witnesses and evidence, and called the COI’s findings of crimes against humanity “groundless.” Justice Kirby emphasized that such allegations were untrue, while also strongly denying any political motivations on the part of the COI. Justice Kirby also implored that, because North Korea promises its citizens freedom of speech and expression in its constitution, the COI report should be made available to all DPRK citizens, so that they themselves may judge its credibility. He also strongly requested that the DPRK withdraw its previous statements that witnesses who testified before the COI are “human scum.”
Representatives from Canada, the United States, the European Union and Japan also joined the debate. They each reiterated their support for the resolution on human rights in North Korea and called on the DPRK to show concrete action toward improving its human rights record, and not offer only words. The resolution, which will come up for vote at the UN General Assembly in a few weeks, reflects the language of the resolution adopted at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva earlier this year. It acknowledges the findings of the COI that crimes against humanity have been conducted “pursuant to policies at the highest level of the State for decades,” and it encourages the UN Security Council to consider referring the human rights situation in North Korea to the International Criminal Court.
In recent weeks, North Korea circulated its own human rights counter-resolution at the UN General Assembly, commending itself for engaging in dialogue with the UN and achieving high standards in human rights. North Korea’s resolution also encouraged the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to cooperate with the nation’s officials, despite the contradictory facts that, for over ten years North Korea, has itself refused to cooperate with independent experts of the UN Human Rights Council—known as “thematic special procedures”—and rejected repeated requests for technical cooperation by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.
Today's event comes at an important time for UN member states to bring the attention back to the victims of the North Korean regime. It is a critical time for member states to make clear that, despite the recent “charm offensive” by the North Korean regime, there are ongoing, widespread and systematic human rights violations occurring in North Korea that call for the international community’s solidarity with the victims, and for strong measures against those responsible for those crimes. As the Ambassador of Botswana stated at today’s event, the international community cannot “just sit back and watch the events in the DPRK take place.” Botswana, too, expressed strong support for the resolution and encouraged other member states to join the resolution.
http://www.un.org/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=A/C.3/69/5
A/C.3/69/5
Distr.: General
20 October 2014
Letter dated 17 October 2014 from the Permanent Representative of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General
I have the honour to refer to the panel discussion on the human rights situation in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea co-organized by the Permanent Missions of Australia, Botswana and Panama and some non-governmental organizations, to be held on Wednesday, 22 October 2014, in the Economic and Social Council Chamber at United Nations Headquarters.
This discussion, which will feature a statement by the former Chair of the United Nations commission of inquiry on human rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Michael Kirby, and testimonies of so-called “former North Korean political prisoners and refugees”, is totally provocative and politically motivated, with an aim of distorting the reality of the human rights situation in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.
In particular, providing a conference room at United Nations Headquarters for a provocative event targeted at an individual Member State is an act of inciting confrontation and conflict within the United Nations, because the discussion in question is plotted through the ill intention of some Member States to obscure the reality of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and its righteous position and, furthermore, to bring down the social system chosen by its people.
The politicalization, selectivity and double standards of abusing human rights for a sinister political purpose should never be allowed.
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea will decisively frustrate the persistent anti-DPRK “human rights” campaign of the hostile forces and continue to make its utmost efforts to firmly defend its socialist system and provide better conditions for the people’s enjoyment of human rights.
I should be grateful if you would have the present letter circulated as a document of the General Assembly, under agenda item 68 (c).
(Signed) Ja Song Nam
Ambassador
Permanent Representative
Source:
http://www.un.org/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=A/C.3/69/5
