Statement by H.E. Mr. Motohide Yoshikawa
Permanent Representative of Japan to the United Nations
At the Third Committee Session
On the Draft Resolution on the “Situation of human rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea”

18 November 2014

 

Madame Chair,

 

          I would like to address the draft resolution titled, “Situation of human rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea” contained in L.28/Rev.1.

Before doing that, let me express my deepest gratitude to those delegations who voted against an amendment proposed by Cuba this morning. Dear delegates, I would like to request your support for this draft resolution.

 

         The human rights situation in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) continues to be grave and of serious concern for the international community.

 

         In February, the United Nations Commission of Inquiry (COI) submitted an unprecedented and historic report on the human rights situation in the DPRK. The findings of this report are based on public hearings from more than 80 victims and 240 confidential interviews with witnesses. It is not just another report of the United Nations, but it provides the basis for the international community to respond to the situation in the DPRK.

 

         The report concludes that systematic, widespread and gross human rights violations have been and are being committed by the DPRK. And the Commission recommends, inter alia, that the Security Council should take actions to secure accountability, including referring the situation to the International Criminal Court for action.

 

         One of these cases identified by the COI report is abduction from foreign countries committed by the DPRK. Persons of various nationalities, including Japanese, were abducted by the DPRK and disappeared. It is urgently required to secure immediate return of those abductees.

 

         The Human Rights Council resolution 25/25, adopted on 28 March this year, welcomed the report and recommended the General Assembly to submit the report to the Security Council for its consideration and appropriate action in order that those responsible for human rights violations are held to account.

 

Madame Chair,

 

         I would like to remind the delegates that, despite the continued calls of the General Assembly and the Human Rights Council in the last ten years, the grave human rights situation in the DPRK remains the same.

 

         In the last two sessions of the General Assembly, this resolution was adopted without a vote. This means that the Member States, with the exception of those who disassociated themselves from that result, expressed their very serious concern at the systematic, widespread and grave violations of civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights in that country.

 

         This year, we may have a vote on this resolution. The Member States are challenged to show once again their serious concern by supporting this resolution. Japan therefore urges all the distinguished delegates gathered here today to support and vote in favor of this draft resolution.

 

I thank you, Madame Chair.