Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea
Statement by the Delegation of the United States of America,
Delivered by Ambassador Robert King
UN Human Rights Council – 26th Session
Geneva,
June 18, 2014
Thank you, Mr. President
The United States welcomes Mr. Marzuki Darusman, the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and thanks him for his continued commitment to shine a light on some of the most appalling human rights violations in modern history.
Following the revelations put forward in the Commission of Inquiry’s report earlier this year, we very much appreciate the Special Rapporteur’s latest report with its focus on what comes next for the regime, the international community, and – perhaps most importantly – the people of North Korea.
We are encouraged by the Special Rapporteur’s recommendations to address the issue of all international abductions and enforced disappearances by the North Korean regime.
The United States reiterates our long-standing pledge to work with all parties to seek a transparent resolution of this issue; we will never forget the suffering of the abductees or the pain their families feel in their absence.
Mr. President, we support the Special Rapporteur’s recommendation to the international community to use multiple mechanisms to address the deplorable human rights situation in the DPRK, including the Universal Periodic Review process, the UN Secretary General’s “Rights up Front” strategy, and continued discussion of the situation of human rights in the DPRK at the UN Security Council.
Mr. President, we wholeheartedly agree with the Special Rapporteur that the work of the COI “should be seen as the beginning of a process, not the end.”
The United States urges our fellow member states to accept the Special Rapporteur’s challenge to make a decisive change in our collective approach to the regime’s aggressive behavior.
We all share responsibility for ensuring that the systematic, widespread and grave violations of civil, political, economic, social, and cultural rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea become a thing of the past.
We hope the work of the Special Rapporteur will spur on all member states to do more to protect the people of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and promote their universal human rights and fundamental freedoms.
Thank you.