“Consider setting up a more detailed mechanism of inquiry on North Korea” – UN Special Rapporteur

NEW YORK (2 November 2012) – The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), Marzuki Darusman, today said that for several decades egregious human rights abuses in North Korea have been extensively documented and called on the UN General Assembly and the international community to undertake a comprehensive review of these documents to assess trends and consider setting up a more detailed mechanism of inquiry.

In his presentation last year’s General Assembly, Mr. Darusman posed a question for the UN Member States, as to what they wish to do with over 20 reports on the human rights situation, including those presented by the Secretary-General, since the inception of the mandate of the Special Rapporteur in 2004.

Today, he also drew attention to the plight of the North Korean asylum seekers in neighbouring countries and his concern that some countries, such as China, are forcibly returning the asylum seekers to North Korea where they may face persecution. He highlighted the case of 31 North Koreans arrested in China in February this year. The Special Rapporteur mentioned that in March this year, he approached the Government of China, requesting a country visit, and he hoped for a positive response.

Mr. Darusman reported to the General Assembly that he had received reports of the extensive use of political prison camps, poor prison conditions and human rights violations. He mentioned that in April 2012, a coalition of some 40 non-governmental organizations compiled information on some of the most horrific abuses committed in the DPRK’s prison camps. It is estimated that some 150,000 to 200,000 people are imprisoned in six camps for alleged political crimes. The Special Rapporteur indicated his intention to explore this issue in his future reports.

The mandate was originally established in 2004 by the UN Commission on Human Rights and continued subsequently by the Human Rights Council. Mr. Marzuki Darusman (Indonesia) is currently the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, as designated in August 2010 by the UN Human Rights Council. As Special Rapporteur, he is independent from any government or organisation and serves in his individual capacity. Learn more, log on to:

http://www2.ohchr.org/english/countries/kp/mandate/index.htm

(*) Check the full report to the UN General Assembly (A/67/370): http://www.un.org/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=A/67/370 or http://www.un.org/en/ga/third/67/documentslist.shtml
OHCHR Country Page – Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK): http://www.ohchr.org/EN/countries/AsiaRegion/Pages/KPIndex.aspx
For more information and media requests, please contact Thanda Thanda (+41 79 444 4537 / tthanda@ohchr.org or Fred Kirungi (+1-917-367-3431/ kirungi@un.org).

UN Human Rights, follow us on social media:
Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/unitednationshumanrights
Twitter: http://twitter.com/UNrightswire
Google+ gplus.to/unitednationshumanrights
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/UNOHCHR