Ministry Statements & Speeches:
Thank you Vice President,
New Zealand thanks the Special Rapporteur for her ongoing work and the update on the human rights situation in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. New Zealand also endorses the Special Rapporteur’s recommendations and urges all States to support the continuation of this important mandate.
New Zealand remains alarmed at the dire state of human rights in the DPRK and we commend the courageous and ongoing efforts by North Korean victims and survivors and their families to seek accountability for human rights violations.
We are deeply concerned about reports of forced labour, arbitrary detention and sexual violence. We join the calls made by others for accountability in addressing these – and other – grave human rights violations.
The DPRK must allow the return of the United Nations Development Programme and other international aid agencies to support the basic needs of North Koreans and support the sustainable development of the country.
We urge the DPRK to engage with the recommendations of its November 2024 Universal Periodic Review and to recognise the important role of the Special Rapporteur.
Thank you.