Geneva, 18 March 2024
Thank you, Mr. President!
I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of the Nordic-Baltic countries.
We commend the efforts of the Special Rapporteur and the OHCHR Seoul Office in monitoring and reporting on the human rights situation in the DPRK. We remain deeply concerned about the serious systematic, widespread and gross human rights violations and crimes against humanity in the country.
The government’s intensifying repressions, restrictions on fundamental rights and freedoms, and worsening isolation have led to devastating consequences for the North Korean people. We concur with the Special Rapporteur that collaborative joint efforts involving all regional actors must be taken to ensure accountability for the human rights violations in the DPRK.
We urge the DPRK to take meaningful steps to implement fundamental rights and freedoms in the country and to cooperate fully with the UN human rights mechanisms - the next Universal Periodic Review of the country in November provides an opportunity for re-engagement and for confidence-building.
Madam Special Rapporteur, how can we best support the UN human rights mechanisms to advance accountability for human rights violations in the DPRK?
I thank you.