A/HRC/RES/43/25
the possibility of implementing a further 56 recommendations, and emphasizing the
importance of the implementation of the recommendations in order to address the grave
human rights violations in the country,
Noting with regret that independent civil society organizations cannot operate in the
Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and, as a result, no civil society organization based
in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea was able to submit a stakeholder report for the
universal periodic review process,
Stressing the importance of extending the cooperation of the Government of the
Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to the Office of the United Nations High
Commissioner for Human Rights,
Recognizing the important work of the treaty bodies in monitoring the implementation
of international human rights obligations, and emphasizing the need for the Democratic
People’s Republic of Korea to comply with its human rights obligations and to ensure regular
and timely reporting to the treaty bodies,
Stressing with grave concern the urgency and importance of the issue of international
abductions and of the immediate return of all abductees, expressing grave concern at the long
years of suffering experienced by abductees and their families and the lack of positive action
by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, notably since the investigations on all the
Japanese nationals commenced on the basis of the government-level consultations held
between the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and Japan in May 2014, and calling
strongly upon the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to address all allegations of
enforced disappearances, to provide accurate information to the families of victims on the
fate and whereabouts of their missing relatives, and to resolve all issues relating to all
abductees at the earliest possible date, in particular the immediate return of all abductees of
Japan and the Republic of Korea,
Welcoming diplomatic efforts, and stressing the importance of dialogue, including
inter-Korean dialogue, engagements and cooperation for the improvement of the human
rights and humanitarian situation in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea,
Noting the urgency and importance of the issue of separated families, including
affected Koreans worldwide, and in this regard encouraging the resumption of reunions of
separated families across the border and in accordance with the commitments made on this
issue at the inter-Korean summit held on 19 September 2018 to strengthen humanitarian
cooperation to fundamentally resolve the issue of separated families, and highlighting the
importance of allowing permanent regular reunions and contact between separated families,
including through meetings at an easily accessible location and regular facility, regular
written correspondence, video reunions and the exchange of video messages, in accordance
with relevant Security Council resolutions,
Reaffirming the importance of States engaging fully and constructively with the
Human Rights Council, including with the universal periodic review process and other
mechanisms of the Council, for the improvement of their situation of human rights,
1.
Condemns in the strongest terms the long-standing and ongoing systematic,
widespread and gross human rights violations and other human rights abuses committed in
and by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, and expresses its grave concern at the
detailed findings made by the commission of inquiry in its report, including:
(a)
The denial of the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion,
including the right to adopt a religion or belief, and of the rights to freedom of opinion,
expression and association, both online and offline, which is enforced through an absolute
monopoly on information and total control over organized social life, and arbitrary and
unlawful State surveillance that permeates the private lives of all citizens;
(b)
Discrimination based on the songbun system, which classifies people on the
basis of State-assigned social class and birth, and also includes consideration of political
opinions and religion, discrimination against women, including unequal access to
employment, discriminatory laws and regulations, and violence against women;
3
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