A/HRC/43/58 reportedly died in late May after being unable to qualify for assistance to cover their basic needs, and their deaths initially went unnoticed. Following the deaths, some escapees called for an improvement in the support programmes for escapees run by the Government of the Republic of Korea. On 2 September 2019, the Ministry of Unification announced comprehensive measures to ensure the social stability of defectors from the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. Those measures included minimizing blind spots in the welfare system, carrying out a comprehensive survey of vulnerable defector households and expanding some areas of support for escapees.62 41. According to research by the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family of the Republic of Korea, 65.2 per cent of female escapees suffer from chronic diseases, 50 per cent are at risk of depression and more than 25 per cent suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder.63 Experts and civil society actors have expressed concern about the lack of support to address anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and other mental health issues affecting many escapees. Escapees also mentioned feeling isolated and noted their limited interaction with people of the Republic of Korea as on ongoing challenge.64 V. Engagement and political negotiations 42. The Special Rapporteur has not been able to exchange views with the authorities of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, either by means of meetings in Geneva or New York or an exchange of letters. In a letter dated 2 July 2019, the Special Rapporteur requested a country visit and, in a letter dated 2 October 2019, he sought the Government’s views on the impact of sanctions on the situation of human rights. Regrettably, he has not received a response to those letters. During his mission to Japan, the Special Rapporteur contacted Chongryon,65 the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan, in order to hear its views on the situation in the Korean peninsula, and to learn about the situation in Japan, including the Association’s work in schools and universities. Representatives of Chongryon declined to meet with him. 43. The Special Rapporteur wishes to stress that his engagement with all Governments is strictly guided by the principles of independence, neutrality and impartiality, and that regular contact with the Government of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea would allow him to reflect its views in his reports. Although the Government continues to refuse to cooperate with his mandate, in disregard of resolutions of the General Assembly and the Human Rights Council, the Special Rapporteur will continue to seek opportunities for formal and informal engagement. In parallel, the Special Rapporteur continues to encourage thematic mandate holders of the special procedures to explore possibilities for conducting country visits to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. 44. During the reporting period, the Special Rapporteur continued to stress the need for the integration of human rights into peace and denuclearization negotiations. In October 2019, the Special Rapporteur made an informal visit to the United States, where he met and discussed with the United States Special Representative to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Stephen Biegun, and other high-ranking government officials, the strategy for integrating human rights into the ongoing peace talks. 45. The Special Rapporteur believes that there is a need to move forward on efforts to sign a peace agreement. He is of the view that a declaration on peace and development in 62 63 64 65 See www.unikorea.go.kr/eng_unikorea/news/releases/?boardId=bbs_0000000000000034 &mode=view&cntId=54214&category=&pageIdx=. Eunjoo Shin et al., Study on North Korean Defector Women’s Damage of Violence and Support Measures, Ministry of Gender Equality and Family of the Republic of Korea, 2017, pp. 17 and 42 (Korean). Shin Ha-Young, Seoul Foundation of Women and Family, Supporting Policy for North Korean Women. Defectors with Migration Research’s Perspective (Korean apart from Abstract), p.132. Chae Ilbon Chosonin Ch’ongryonhaphoe in Korean, the Japanese name for the organizations is ZaiNihon Chosenjin Sorengokai or Chosen Soren. 15