Speech

HRC52:Interactive Dialogue with Special Rapporteur on North Korea

UK Human Rights Ambassador Rita French delivered a statement on the situation of human rights in Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

• From: Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and Rita French
• Published: 20 March 2023

This was published under the 2022 to 2024 Sunak Conservative government

• Location: Geneva
• Delivered on: 20 March 2023 (Transcript of the speech, exactly as it was delivered)

Thank you, Mr President,

I would like to start by welcoming the Special Rapporteur’s critical work in continuing to report on the DPRK’s human rights record. We remain deeply alarmed by the systematic and widespread human rights violations by the DPRK regime.

Instead of upholding its human rights obligations and meeting the needs of the most vulnerable in society, the DPRK continues to prioritise its illegal weapons programme. Moreover, the DPRK’s border restrictions in response to COVID continue to severely hamper UN agencies’ ability to access and deliver life-saving support to the people of North Korea.

The UK urges the DPRK to now engage credibly with the international community and allow UN human rights mechanisms unhindered access. We stand ready to engage and assist the DPRK on human rights issues.

Madam Special Rapporteur,

How do the prolonged COVID-related measures introduced by the regime continue to impact human rights in North Korea?

Thank you.

Published 20 March 2023