UN Human Rights Council 42: Statement for the Universal Periodic Review on the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea
The UK welcomed DPRK's engagement with the UPR process, however expressed concerns by the lack of participation in other UN Human Rights mechanisms and ongoing reports of human rights violations.
The Human Rights Council takes place at the Palais des Nations in Geneva.
The UK welcomes the DPRK’s engagement with the UPR and its follow up statement on the recommendations received. However, we are concerned about the lack of participation by the DPRK in other UN Human Rights mechanisms and the absence of guarantees to ensure the human rights of its citizens.
The UK remains deeply concerned by reports of ongoing, widespread, and systematic human rights violations in the DPRK. It is unacceptable that citizens face surveillance, imprisonment or even death because of their religion or belief. We are concerned that citizens are prohibited from accessing independent media or other sources of information. We urge the government to allow human rights actors immediate, unhindered access.
The UK encourages the DPRK to engage fully with the UN and the international community on the recommendations made during the UPR. We regret that the DPRK did not support any of the UK’s three recommendations, which were: to take action to cease practices of forced labour including the use of prisoners and children, as defined in the UN Convention of the Rights of the Child; to implement plans for accession to the Convention against Torture; and to end all surveillance and censorship contrary to international human rights laws and standards. Nevertheless, we remain open to discussing these recommendations with the DPRK.