Interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Statement by Ireland

Statement of Ireland

13 March 2017 

Ireland aligns with the EU statement and adds the following.

Mr. President,

We thank the Special Rapporteur for the presentation of his first report to the Council.

Ireland abhors the ongoing, systematic and widespread violations of human rights in the DPRK, as reported by the Special Rapporteur and his predecessor, including international abductions, summary executions, restrictions on the access to information, and violation of the rights to expression, association, freedom of movement and freedom of religion or belief.

We repeat the pressing need to ensure accountability for such human rights violations, including alleged crimes against humanity. We reiterate our full support for the conclusions of the Commission of Inquiry and welcome the report and recommendations of the group of independent experts on accountability. We remain firmly of the view that the Security Council should refer the situation to the International Criminal Court.

In line with the two-track approach, Ireland agrees with the importance of establishing channels of dialogue with the Government of the DPRK. Notwithstanding the recent and worrying deterioration in the security situation, we would continue to emphasise the useful role that dialogue can play on the Korean peninsula.

However such dialogue must be coupled with increased engagement of the authorities in the DPRK.  We urge DPRK to cooperate with OHCHR and the treaty bodies and to grant access to the Special Rapporteur and other international human rights mechanisms. 

Special Rapporteur

We would be interested to hear your views on how to progress efforts at spreading awareness of human rights in the State, in light of the restrictions on access to information in DPRK;

We are also interested in your view on how best we can move forward in countering impunity following the report of the group of experts; and finally on the impact which sanctions imposed on DPRK in 2016 may have in the State.

Thank you