A/HRC/22/57
conflict with the law.94 Several United Nations documents also point to discrimination
against children of non-ethnic Korean origin and their mothers.95
72.
As early as 2003 the Commission on Human Rights expressed deep concern at the
“mistreatment of and discrimination against disabled children”. Since 2006 the General
Assembly has consistently decried “continuing reports of violations of the human rights and
fundamental freedoms of persons with disabilities, especially on the use of collective camps
and of coercive measures that target the rights of persons with disabilities to decide freely
and responsibly on the number and spacing of their children.” 96 Whereas in 2006 the
Special Rapporteur noted “to date, the situation facing those with disabilities has presented
a very disconcerting picture. It is reported that those with disabilities are sent away from the
capital city, and particularly those with mental disabilities are detained in areas or camps
known as „Ward 49‟ with harsh and subhuman conditions.” 97
73.
Another group regularly referred to by the Special Rapporteur, the SecretaryGeneral and numerous resolutions of the Commission on Human Rights, Human Rights
Council and General Assembly are those returned or repatriated to the Democratic
People’s Republic Korea and their families. All reports and resolutions refer to the harsh
punishments they suffer, the violations of their rights and the lack of respect for the
principle of non-refoulement by neighbouring states.
Recommendations on discrimination
74.
During the Universal Periodic Review in 2009, several States recommended that the
Democratic People‟s Republic of Korea ratify the International Convention on the
Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD) and the Convention on the
Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CPRD). 98
75.
Several Human Rights Council resolutions reaffirm the responsibility of the
Government of the Democratic People‟s Republic of Korea to ensure the full enjoyment of
all human rights and fundamental freedoms of its entire population. 99
F.
Violations of freedom of expression
76.
The United Nations has called upon the Democratic People‟s Republic of Korea to
respect the right to freedom of opinion, expression and assembly of its citizens.
77.
Since 2006, the General Assembly has expressed “its very serious concern at ...all
pervasive and severe restrictions on the freedoms of thought, conscience, religion, opinion
and expression, peaceful assembly and association, and on equal access to information, by
such means as the persecution of individuals exercising their freedom of opinion and
expression, and their families.”100
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
26
A/RES/64/175; A/RES/65/225
E/CN.4/2006/35, para 25; A/HRC/7/20, para 31; A/ 61/349, para 47
See for example A/RES/62/167.
E/CN/4/2006/35, para 33
A/HRC/13/13; Universal Periodic Review documents
[http://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/UPR/Pages/KPSession6.aspx]
A/HRC/RES/13/14; A/HRC/RES/16/8; A/HRC/RES/19/13
A/RES/60/173; A/RES/61/174; A/RES/62/167; A/RES/63/190; A/RES/64/175; A/RES/66/174
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