Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights situation of DPRK at the 10th Session of the Human Rights Council

Statement by Japan
Interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the Situation of human rights in the DPRK

Geneva,16 March 2009
Permanent Mission of Japan in Geneva

Thank you, Mr. President,

The Government of Japan wishes to express its highest appreciation to the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the DPRK for his sincere efforts for the improvement of the human rights situation in the DPRK, including through his visits to Japan. The Special Rapporteur’s objective and comprehensive report is always very useful in helping us understand the current situation of human rights in the DPRK.

We are extremely disturbed to learn from the Special Rapporteur’s report that child malnutrition and illnesses have been on the rise due to a serious decline in food availability, accessibility and consumption. We are also concerned about the continuation of public executions as well as the existence of a wide variety of detention facilities.

Mr. President,

In the Japan-DPRK working-level consultation last August, both sides agreed on the overall objectives and concrete modalities of the investigation on the abduction issue. Following the adoption of the resolution on the DPRK human rights situation in the Third Committee of the UN General Assembly last November, a representative of the DPRK made a statement to the effect that it was ready to do everything to reinvestigate the abduction issue. However, the DPRK has not begun to act on its agreement, regardless of our continuing requests for that.

The abduction of nationals of other states, tearing apart beloved family members, is nothing but a grave human rights violation. The DPRK, above all, should commence investigation anew on the abduction issue without delay.

Mr. President,

It was revealed again by the Special Rapporteur’s report that grave, widespread and systematic human rights violations are continuing in the DPRK. In order to improve the situation, the continuing role of the Special Rapporteur is crucial and the extension of the mandate is indispensable.

We hope that the DPRK will, for its benefit, engage in dialogue with the Special Rapporteur, who provides a “widow of opportunity”, and in technical cooperation with the UN mechanisms, including the High Commissioner for Human Rights.

We fully agree with the references to the UPR in Special Rapporteur’s report. We strongly believe that Special Procedures based upon country-specific mandates are complementary to the UPR process, and that the recommendations in the report of the Special Rapporteur serve as useful indicators or benchmarks for the forthcoming UPR of the DPRK. We hope that the DPRK will take concrete steps for tackling the issues referred to in the recommendations of the report by the forthcoming UPR session, and we will keep watching closely how thing proceed.

I thank you, Mr. President.