Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea

Overview of the mandate

The Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea was established by the UN Commission on Human Rights in 2004 (resolution 2004/13), and has been renewed on an annual basis by the Human Rights Council. The Special Rapporteur investigates and reports on the situation of human rights in the country and on the government’s compliance with its obligations under international human rights law. She submits reports to the Human Rights Council and General Assembly annually.

Special Rapporteur

Ms. Elizabeth Salmón (Peru) is appointed as the first female Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea by the Human Rights Council on 1 August in 2022. Ms. Salmón is a Professor of International Law at the Faculty of Law of the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru. She is also Executive Director of the Institute for Democracy and Human Rights of the same university (IDEHPUCP). She holds a PhD in International Law from the University of Seville (Spain).

Professor Salmón was a member of the United Nations Human Rights Council Advisory Committee and a Consulting Expert of the Colombian Special Jurisdiction for Peace. She has acted as a consultant to the Ministry of Justice and Ministry of Defense of Peru, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Peru, the United Nations and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). She also participates as a speaker in numerous seminars, conferences and events around the world and she is the author of several publications in Public International Law, International Human Rights Law, International Criminal Law, International Humanitarian Law and Transitional Justice.