Human Rights Council 37: Human Rights situation in DPRK
This UK statement was delivered at the 37th Session of the Human Rights Council during the Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in DPRK, held on 12 March 2018.
The Human Rights Council takes place at the Palais des Nations in Geneva
The United Kingdom thanks the Special Rapporteur for his continued dedication and determination to hold the DPRK to account for widespread and systematic human rights abuses.
The UK remains deeply concerned by the DPRK’s appalling human rights record. The regime maintains a stranglehold on every aspect of its citizens’ lives. The DPRK constitution guarantees freedom of expression, religion, speech, the press, demonstration and association. In practice, none of these freedoms exist. Instead, we continue to see reports of child labour, mass malnutrition, political discrimination, and ‘ideological indoctrination’. Even the cheerleaders sent to the Pyeongchang games were carefully handpicked, strictly monitored and reportedly sent for re-education on their return home.
We continue to believe there is a very different path open to the regime that offers security, prosperity, and the genuine chance of a better life for every citizen. We hope the signal Kim Jong Un is ready to discuss denuclearisation is genuine and this will lead to the DPRK putting the welfare of its people ahead of the illegal pursuit of nuclear weapons.
We urge the DPRK to cooperate with the international community and allow the Special Rapporteur and other human rights mechanisms free and unhindered access to the country.
I would be interested to hear your thoughts on the economic and social changes taking place in the DPRK, in particular the increased role of free markets in the economy, and what impact this could have on the human rights of people in the DPRK.