A/HRC/13/13 53. Zimbabwe noted the strides to improve the overall standards of living. DPRK has faced a number of challenges in implementing some of the rights, mainly due to some global economic and political factors. 54. Israel stressed that as a party to ICCPR, CRC, ICESCR and CEDAW, DPRK has an obligation to adhere to its international commitments and protect and promote human rights. 55. Indonesia enquired about plans of the Governments to accede to other core human rights instruments. Indonesia called upon DPRK to give due consideration to the legitimate concerns related to unresolved abduction cases, and in particular to speed up efforts to resolve them. 56. Norway recognized efforts on gender equality, child rights and legislative reforms. It noted that children face discrimination based on social origin and was concerned about State sanctioned extrajudicial activities. It appreciated that DPRK is a party to several human rights instruments and expressed deep concern about respect of the rights to freedom of opinion, expression, association and peaceful assembly. It enquired about legislative reforms, disparity in access to food, visits to detention facilities and the treatment of returnees. 57. Slovenia raised questions related to ratification of human rights treaties; plans for human rights education in schools, work place and legal community; human rights training for judiciary and law enforcement officials; the effect of the background of a child in access to education, food, health, jobs, marriage and party membership, measures for elimination of the use of forced abortions, measures for improvement of prison conditions. 58. Qatar noted that DPRK is a party to a number of human rights instruments, and hoped for more progress in the dialogue with the international community, on the basis of mutual respect. It encouraged DPRK to continue its efforts to promote and protect human rights, particularly economic and social rights, which will contribute to achieving the MDGs. 59. Yemen noted DPRK’s political will to achieve gender equality through legislation, free education for all, especially women and the provision of special services to women at the work place. DPRK is party to a number of international instruments. 60. Austria asked if the Government has any plans to effectively implement its obligations under the treaties it is party to. It was concerned by many reported cases of disappearances of political dissidents. 61. Germany requested information about how DPRK followed up on the measures urged by the Special Rapporteur on DPRK with regard to the consequences of the Korean War of 1950-1953, including the issues of missing persons and the reunification of families separated by the war. 62. Canada noted the emphasis placed on the provision of free universal medical care and welcomed the recent revision of the Constitution. Canada expressed concerns regarding to the overall lack of basic freedoms in DPRK and the humanitarian situation, in particular the chronic food shortage and inadequate access to safe drinking water. 63. The Netherlands expressed concerns related to reports on the possible use of torture, including inhuman condition of detention, public executions, extrajudicial and arbitrary detention, the absence of due process and the imposition of the death penalty for political and religious reasons. It was concerned about the safety and well being of nationals who have returned to the country, and food security of the population. 64. Chile expressed concern about reported extrajudicial executions carried out in public and in detention camps, discrimination in access to education, practice of forced labour and 9