3 results for month: 02/2020

Joint open letter concerning the UN Human Rights Council’s 2020 resolution on North Korean Human Rights

We are writing on behalf of 36 non-governmental organizations, coalitions, and concerned individuals from 10 different countries worldwide to urge the European Union to make every effort to highlight the on-going systematic, widespread and gross human rights violations, including those that amount to crimes against humanity, and appropriate actions to be taken by the stakeholders in the annual resolution on the situation of human rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea that is expected to be adopted by the 43rd UN Human Rights Council in March. At the outset, we recognize the critical role played by the European Union and its ...

Joint Statement on Deportation of Two North Korean Fishermen by 20 Human Rights and Civil Society Organizations for North Korean Human Rights

We, the signatories, jointly condemn the South Korean government and its hasty decision to repatriate two North Korean fishermen. Such a decision is a grave violation of international and domestic laws including Article 3 of the United Nations Convention against Torture (UNCAT), which forbids States Parties from returning persons to another State where there are substantial grounds for believing that they would be in danger of being subjected to torture. We strongly urge the DPRK to disclose the current situation and future plans for the deported men. We call upon the United Nations and Member States to join in expressing deep concern with ...

Toward Justice for Victims of the North Korean Regime

New York Law School Board Room 2-6pm, November 12, 2019 Despite sustained international calls for action following the landmark 2014 report by the UN Commission of Inquiry on human rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), the matter of crimes against humanity committed by the North Korean leadership is still overshadowed by a heavy focus on nuclear security issues. Distracted by North Korea’s diplomatic rapprochement and “charm offensive” strategies of “engagement”, concrete policies and possible measures to address abuses have not been fully realized by UN member states over the past five years. In contrast, a ...