A/HRC/28/71
87.
It is more than ever essential at the present juncture that the international
community redouble its efforts to effect meaningful changes in the Democratic
People’s Republic of Korea by addressing the deeply worrying human rights situation
in the country, in particular with regard to the issue of international abductions,
enforced disappearances and related matters. The international community owes it to
all the victims and their relatives who have endured enough suffering, and to the
people of both Koreas in their hopes for a peaceful future.
88.
In this regard, the Special Rapporteur wishes to make the following series of
recommendations.
89.
The Special Rapporteur calls upon the Human Rights Council to:
(a)
Reiterate its absolute condemnation of the longstanding and ongoing
systematic, widespread and gross human rights violations and other human rights
abuses committed in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea;
(b)
Affirm the responsibility of the international community to protect the
people of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and victims abroad from crimes
against humanity, in view of the manifest failure of the Democratic People’s Republic
of Korea to protect its own population from such crimes;
(c)
Ensure that the field-based structure of the Office of the United Nations
High Commissioner for Human Rights tasked with following up on the commission of
inquiry’s work can function with independence, has sufficient resources and is not
subjected to reprisals or threats;
(d)
Urge the Government of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to
invite the Special Rapporteur to undertake a fully-fledged visit to the country as soon
as possible and without any preconditions, in accordance with the terms of reference
for country visits by special procedures mandate holders, 29 and more generally to
cooperate with his mandate.
90.
The Special Rapporteur urges the Government of the Democratic People’s
Republic of Korea to:
(a)
Immediately halt all the human rights violations identified by the
commission of inquiry in its report;
(b)
Resume dialogue with, and consider reissuing the invitations extended to
all the stakeholders concerned, including the Special Rapporteur and the Office of the
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights;
(c)
Engage genuinely in bilateral talks with the Republic of Korea and
Japan, and abide by the terms of bilateral agreements concluded, first and foremost in
the interest of the victims and their families;
(d)
Cooperate with the United Nations human rights mechanisms, including
the mandate of the Special Rapporteur, notably by granting them access to the
country with a view to, inter alia, assisting and assessing the implementation of the
recommendations accepted during the second cycle of the universal periodic review.
91.
The Special Rapporteur calls on Member States to:
(a)
Ensure that the Security Council holds regular briefings on the situation
in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, with the participation of the High
29
18
E/CN.4/1998/45.
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