Adoption of the UPR Report of DPRK
Human Rights Council, Geneva
Agenda Item 6
Statement by the United States of America
Delivered by Ambassador Robert King
March 18, 2010
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Thank you, Mr. President.
The United States hopes the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s engagement in the UPR process represents an opportunity to begin an in-depth dialogue with the DPRK on human rights issues.
The United States remains deeply concerned by the reports of severe and pervasive human rights abuses in the DPRK, including extrajudicial execution, torture, systemic deprivation of due process, and denial of universal freedoms such as the freedom of speech, expression, movement, and religion. We also remain concerned about the abductions issue. The United States urges the DPRK to observe human rights obligations of the U.N. Charter and international human rights instruments and fully protect in practice the rights listed in its Constitution and laws.
The United States notes the DPRK’s willingness to consider establishing an independent human rights mechanism, and urge the DPRK to accept technical assistance from OHCHR in setting up this national institution and to seek accreditation from the International Coordinating Committee of National Institutions.
The United States is concerned by reports of forced labor and government-led mobilization campaigns, and urges the DPRK to accept and implement our recommendation to join the ILO and ratify its core conventions (particularly Nos. 105, 29, 182, and 138 on forced and child labor) and allow related monitoring by ILO staff.
The United States remains concerned about abuses that disproportionately affect women and urges the DPRK to expand its efforts to protect women’s rights by adopting legislation on violence against women; creating a government task force to create protection programs, provide resources for recovery, and promote prevention through education and media campaigns; and inviting the U.N. Special Rapporteur on Violence against Women and the U.N. Special Rapporteur on Torture to visit the country.
In conclusion, the United States urges the DPRK to uphold its commitment that every individual citizen is entitled to enjoy human rights and to protect those rights by implementing the recommendations made during this review.
Thank you, Mr. President.
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