A/HRC/28/71
ongoing violations “because the policies, institutions and patterns of impunity that lie at
their heart remain in place”.14 Such findings have important international justice
implications, including the possible application of the jurisdiction of the International
Criminal Court.
32.
The commission of inquiry subsequently recommended that the Special Rapporteur
develop a strategy, involving all United Nations human rights mechanisms concerned, to
address the issue of international abductions, enforced disappearances and related matters
coherently and without delay. It also recommended that Member States afford full
cooperation to ensure the implementation of such a strategy. 15
33.
In the light of the number of countries whose nationals have been abducted and
disappeared, the Special Rapporteur believes that an international approach to the issue is
now required. He welcomes the various bilateral efforts undertaken by some countries so
far, which should be sustained. However, he stresses that it is also fundamental to generate
broad support from the international community to address the issue of international
abductions, enforced disappearances and related matters more robustly and
comprehensively.
34.
The Special Rapporteur pays his deepest respect to the families of abductees and
enforced disappearances that he has met in the Republic of Korea and Japan over the years.
He has been greatly impressed and moved by their dignified composure and unfailing
courage over several decades in their search for truth, justice and the return of their loved
ones. There is a real sense of urgency to solve this matter once and for all as the victims —
those who have survived — and their families are, for the most part, well advanced in
years.
35.
In this context, the Special Rapporteur would like to propose the following elements
of a strategy aimed at addressing the issue of international abductions and enforced
disappearances committed by the Government of the Democratic People’s Republic of
Korea, and related matters.
B.
Purpose
36.
The present strategy builds on recent major developments in the Human Rights
Council, General Assembly and Security Council on the situation in the Democratic
People’s Republic of Korea, with significantly increased scrutiny by the international
community of the actions of the Government of the Democratic People’s Republic of
Korea. It seeks to maintain momentum on, and the visibility of, the issue of international
abductions, enforced disappearances and related matters in the international arena, and
thereby sustain continuous and targeted pressure on the authorities of the Democratic
People’s Republic of Korea to resolve the issue to the satisfaction of the victims, their
families and the international community.
37.
The strategy is aimed at eventually shedding light on all cases of abductions and
enforced disappearances allegedly committed by agents of the Democratic People’s
Republic of Korea; securing the immediate return of those who are still alive, together with
their descendants, to their respective countries of origin; facilitating the uniting of separated
families without delay; identifying and repatriating the physical remains of those who have
perished, in close cooperation with their families and nations of origin; ensuring that
victims of abduction and enforced disappearance, as well as their families, obtain redress
14
15
Ibid., para. 76.
Ibid., para. 94 (d).
9
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