33rd Session of the Human Rights Council, ITEM 4 General Debate, Mr. Kansuke Nagaoka, Minister, Permanent Mission of Japan in Geneva (19 September 2016)

Mr. Vice-President,

　Regarding the human rights situations that require the Council’s attention, we explained our positon on Syria at the Interactive Dialogue held this morning.

Mr. Vice-President,

　North Korea has repeated actions that seriously undermine peace and stability in the region and the world, while ignoring to promote and protect human rights. We cannot accept such actions.

　The systematic and long-term human rights violations by the DPRK, including in political prisoners’ camps, as pointed out in the COI report two years ago, has not improved at all. In particular, the acts of abductions that tear apart families, including those with young children, are among the most serious human rights violations by the DPRK.

　Japan welcomes that the new Special Rapporteur Mr.Quintana started his activity from August. We welcome that Ms. Biserko and Ms. Hossain were designated by the High Commissioner as members of the group of experts on accountability. And, we also welcome that the first meeting of this group will be convened from tomorrow. Japan continues to cooperate to the extent possible with their activities and calls upon other Member States to do so as well.

　We urge the DPRK to pay serious attention to the concerns repeatedly raised by the international community, squarely face the realities of the dire human rights situation persisting in the DPRK, and take concrete measures　to redress the situation. We also urge the DPRK to cooperate with the UN　human rights mechanism, including the Special Rapporteur, this expert group, and the OHCHR Seoul Office.

Mr. Vice-President,

　Lastly, ensuring free expression and activities by civil society is at the basis of the fundamental value of democracy. We are concerned that in some countries and regions movements running counter to this value
remain prevalent. This Council must not be indifferent to such a situation.

I thank you.