PRESS CONFERENCE BY SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR ON HUMAN RIGHTS IN DEMOCRATIC PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF KOREA

PRESS CONFERENCE BY SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR ON HUMAN RIGHTS

IN DEMOCRATIC PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF KOREA

While there had been some constructive developments recently in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, there remained egregious discrepancies and transgressions in the promotion and protection of human rights, particularly evident in the Government’s spotty record in providing food to needy populations, and ending abductions, arbitrary detention and maltreatment of refugees, said the United Nations top expert on the rights situation in that country.

The glaring political aspects of the human rights situation in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea could not be ignored:  those closest to the regime had access to better treatment and services, while almost everyone else, particularly routinely marginalized women and children, faced serious deficits, Special Rapporteur Vitit Muntarbhorn told a Headquarters press conference.

He said that over the course of his mandate, he had not been invited to the country, but was aware that the Pyongyang Government kept track of his movements and his visits to neighbouring countries.  The Government also regularly requested copies of his reports before they were presented to the Geneva-based Commission on Human Rights.  “Although I have not visited the country, my door remains open.  One of the principles of my work is transparency”, he said. 

Of grave concern was the Government’s handling of efforts to rebound from catastrophic food shortages in the wake of floods and drought in the mid-1990s, along with its decision to curtail foreign aid.  Following power shifts and imbalances, the overall situation had become politicized.  And with what was considered an inadequate Government response, the humanitarian community had raised questions about how much food aid from abroad actually reached the target population or was diverted for other, clandestine uses.

At the same time, Mr. Muntarbhorn said there were signals that the Government was pulling back somewhat from its decision to stop all food aid from international humanitarian organizations by the end of the year, partly based on the claim that the harvest this year would be substantial.  He now thought that perhaps the decision would affect multilateral aid, but hoped the country would still continue to take food aid from one or two of its neighbours.  But he warned that there was still a serious food shortage even now, and all food aid that could be provided should be. 

Responding to questions, he expressed concern about the Government’s strict control of the movement of the people of the country.  There had been reports of the maltreatment of persons travelling across national boundaries, as well as of displaced persons and refugees.  He was also concerned by Japan’s claims that several of its nationals that were abducted by Korean officials were still alive and should be returned to Japan immediately and safely, and be given access to justice. 

On the constructive side, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea was party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights; the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights; the Convention on the Rights of the Child; and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women.  And although it had not yet met with Mr. Muntarbhorn, the Government had cooperated with various United Nations agencies.

“Still, I think that the [Democratic People’s Republic of Korea] is learning that I am being fair to them.  I have nothing to hide.  I am there to help the people of the country”, he said, adding that he consistently tried to meet with Government officials.  “In the corridors we pass and shake hands, which might not be so bad.  It’s a starting point.”

Asked about Pyongyang’s assertion that special mandates or independent rights experts infringed on the country’s national sovereignty, Mr. Muntarbhorn said that was a clichéd argument used by many countries.  Perhaps the best defence was to meet it with another cliché: human rights protection and advocacy was a part of international jurisdiction.  States had agreed to promote and protect the human rights of their citizens, if only by implication, when they become party to the United Nations Charter.  Obligations also flowed when they acceded to relevant international human rights treaties and covenants.  “In real terms, we have to protect people”, he said.

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For information media • not an official record