A/HRC/26/43 I. Introduction 1. The present report is the first to be submitted by the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to the Human Rights Council since the commission of inquiry on human rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea completed its work in March 2014. 2. In its resolution 22/13, the Human Rights Council decided to establish the commission of inquiry for a period of one year to investigate the systematic, widespread and grave violations of human rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. It also extended the mandate of the Special Rapporteur for a period of one year, and designated him to be one of the three commissioners. The commission presented its final report to the Council at its twenty-fifth session.1 The Special Rapporteur, in a note,2 informed the Council that he would submit his regular report to the Council at its twenty-sixth session in order to take into account the follow-up and subsequent developments after the commission had completed its mandate. 3. The Special Rapporteur prepared the present report in the wake of resolution 25/25 on the situation of human rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea adopted by an overwhelming majority by the Human Rights Council on 28 March 2014. In the resolution, adopted by a recorded vote of 30 in favour, 6 against and 11 abstentions, the Council called upon all parties concerned, including United Nations bodies, to consider implementation of the recommendations made by the commission of inquiry in its report in order to address the dire human rights situation in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. It also requested the Special Rapporteur to submit regular reports to the Human Rights Council and to the General Assembly on the implementation of his mandate, including on the follow-up efforts made in the implementation of the recommendations of the commission of inquiry. 4. In the present report, the Special Rapporteur shares his initial thoughts about the direction he intends to take in fulfilling his mandate, building on the findings and recommendations of the commission of inquiry. In this sense, the report is not a regular update of the situation of human rights as such, but rather indicates the way forward. The Special Rapporteur firmly believes that the work of the commission has turned a page in decades-long efforts to address the situation of human rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, and provided a unique opportunity for the international community to help to make a difference in the lives of its people, including the victims aboard. There is no turning back; it cannot be “business as usual” as the international community presses on to ease the ongoing suffering of the people and to ensure accountability, justice and reconciliation. 5. The Special Rapporteur believes that any discussion about the report submitted by the commission of inquiry would be incomplete without paying tribute to the victims who have survived and courageously spoken up about unspeakable atrocities, and bearing in mind those who are still suffering, and the beleaguered population of 20 million who may still fall victim to the widespread human rights violations that affect every aspect of daily life in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. In many ways, the commission’s report was a report of the victims and their courage to bear witness, to give voice to those who have perished or have not been able to tell their story. 1 2 A/HRC/25/63. A/HRC/25/62. 3