Reaffirming that it is 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, Recognizing the vulnerability of women, children, persons with disabilities and the elderly, and the need to ensure their protection against neglect, abuse, exploitation and violence, 1. Expresses serious concern at the ongoing grave, widespread and systematic human rights violations in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea; 2. Commends the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea for the activities undertaken to date and his continued efforts in the conduct of the mandate, despite the limited access to information; 3. Decides to extend the mandate of the Special Rapporteur, in accordance with Council resolution 7/15, for a period of one year; 4. Urges the Government of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to cooperate fully with the Special Rapporteur and to permit him unrestricted access to visit the country and to provide him with all necessary information to enable him to fulfil his mandate; 5. Also urges the Government of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to engage fully and positively with the universal periodic review process in December 2009, with a view to improving the human rights situation through effective engagement with the international community; 6. Further urges the Government of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to ensure full, rapid and unimpeded access of humanitarian assistance that is delivered on the basis of need, in accordance with humanitarian principles; 7. Encourages the United Nations, including its specialized agencies, regional intergovernmental organizations, mandate holders, interested institutions and independent experts and non-governmental organizations to develop regular dialogue and cooperation with the Special Rapporteur in the fulfilment of his mandate; 8. Requests the Secretary-General to provide the Special Rapporteur with all assistance and adequate staffing necessary to carry out his mandate effectively and to ensure that this mechanism works with the support of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights; 9. Invites the Special Rapporteur to submit regular reports on the implementation of his mandate to the Council and the General Assembly. 43rd meeting 26 March 2009 [Adopted by a recorded vote of 26 to 6, with 15 abstentions. The voting was as follows: In favour: 2 Argentina, Bahrain, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, France, Germany, Ghana, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mexico, Netherlands, Republic of Korea, Saudi Arabia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Switzerland, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Uruguay, Zambia;