Ministry Statements & Speeches:
Thank you Mr President,
New Zealand thanks the Special Rapporteur for her update on the human rights situation in the Democratic Peoples’ Republic of Korea, and endorses her recommendations.
New Zealand is concerned at the ongoing human rights violations in the DPRK, including arbitrary detention, torture, forced abortion and sexual and gender-based violence, many of which have been found to constitute crimes against humanity.
New Zealand continues to be concerned that the DPRK’s prolonged border closure and denial of access to international humanitarian organisations is worsening the human rights situation and exacerbating chronic food insecurity. We also acknowledge that this has had a more detrimental effect on women and girls, as the Special Rapporteur has found in her report.
We support the Special Rapporteur’s recommendation that the Government of the DPRK develop, adopt, and implement a comprehensive plan of action to promote women’s and girls’ rights and gender equality. We continue to look for ways to encourage human rights dialogue in the DPRK.
Special Rapporteur, New Zealand would like to know how we can encourage the DPRK to re-open its borders to diplomatic and humanitarian channels, in order to ascertain a thorough assessment of human rights in the country.
New Zealand would like to reiterate our sincere thanks to Ms. Elizabeth Salmón, and we urge all States to support the continuation of this important mandate.
Thank you