A/HRC/42/2 improve the protection of human rights, as well as its readiness to further cooperate with international mechanisms. 680. Singapore acknowledged the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s constructive engagement in the dialogue on its national policies and efforts to promote and protect human rights in accordance with its international obligations. Singapore noted that the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea has accepted its recommendation to adopt more measures to allow persons with disabilities to participate more widely in society. 681. The Syrian Arab Republic welcomed efforts of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to provide housing and free education. It highlighted the spirit of positive cooperation shown by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea in the universal periodic review and human rights mechanisms. 3. General comments made by other stakeholders 682. During the adoption of the outcome of the review of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, four other stakeholders made statements. 683. Christian Solidarity Worldwide welcomed recommendations relating to the right to freedom of religion or belief made during the universal periodic review process. It stated that any citizen of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea who expressed an opinion or belief that differed from those of the government faced severe punishment. Witness testimonies indicated that many Christians had been detained in prison camps where they endured dire living conditions and brutal torture. It was highly concerned that the Government had rejected recommendations from twelve States calling for an end to arbitrary detention and the use of prison camps, and continued to call on the Government to release all persons currently detained in these camps and to provide for their physical, mental, and social rehabilitation. It was also concerned that the Government had chosen not to accept a recommendation to decriminalize the possession and distribution of religious texts. It called on the Government to ensure that the right to freedom of religion or belief was fully respected and that no individual was subject to punishment, including capital punishment, due to manifesting their religious beliefs. It was concerned that the Government had not accepted recommendations to abolish the songbun social political classification system, under which the Government had categorized Christians as a hostile class. As a result, many citizens found to believe and practice Christianity or to have witnessed Christian activities were persecuted. It urged the Government to reconsider these recommendations and abolish the songbun system immediately. 684. The Center for Global Nonkilling noted that, when the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea joined the United Nations in 1991, the country had endorsed article 4 of the United Nations Charter and committed to being a peace-loving country. It encouraged the Government to pursue, on a swift pace and in good faith, the peace process started in 2018. It recalled that the peace conference planned in the 1953 Armistice Agreement had not yet taken place, and that many peace and disarmament treaties still needed to be ratified. It sincerely hoped that dignity and freedom, as necessary tools of wellbeing for all, would progress until the next review. 685. United Nations Watch stated that the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea was isolated from the rest of the world and that the Government had set up a surveillance system of its citizens, who did not enjoy any freedom. Freedom of speech and freedom of the press were non-existent, with the country occupying the last position on the World Press Freedom Index. The mere fact of consulting foreign media could send a citizen to prison. It stated that freedom of worship was also non-existent, that prisoners were victims of torture, and that women were particularly vulnerable to sexual abuse. It furthermore stated that the Government practiced public executions, which family members, including children, were 102