International Symposium on North Korean Human Rights
The National Human Rights Commission of Korea(Chairperson Hyun, Byung-chul) hosted the 2015 International Symposium on North Korea Human Rights on 10 February in Jakarta, Indonesia, with Komnas HAM, AICHR-Indonesia, which aims to discuss measures for cooperation in Asia for improvement of North Korean human rights.
At the symposium, Marzuki Darusman, the UN Special Rapporteur on North Korean Human Rights, Kwon O-Gon, the Permanent Judge of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, Hafids Abbas, Chairperson of the Komnas HAM, Yoon Nam-Guen, Chiar of the Special Committee on North Korean Human Rights of the NHRCK, Ra Jong-yil, Chair professor of Hanyang University, Lee Jong-Hoon, Human Rights Ambassador, Hong Seong-Phil, a member of the UN Working Group on arbitrary detention, Rafendi Djamin, Indonesian representative of AICHR, experts and NGOs in indonesia participated, and reaffirmed importance of international cooperation for promotion of North Korean human rights, and agreed to act together.
Chairperson Hyun Byung-chul, in his opening remarks, stated that North Korean regime should actively have dialogue and cooperate with the international community so as to create consensus on standard and value of human rights which is universal value for mankind, which will serve as a cornerstone for improvement of North Korean human rights.
Chairperson also stated that he wishes this symposium to serve as an opportunity to strengthen cooperation in ASEAN for improvement of human rights in North Korea, and suggested establishment of human rights institution or association covering the entire Asia, as a way of inclusive approach.
Marzuki Darusman, the UN Special Rapporteur on North Korean Human Rights, who plans to participate an event celebrating 1 year of the UN COI report and the UN Human Rights Council next month, gave keynote remarks in which he stated that the symposium is an important opportunity to review accomplishments and tasks regarding North Korean human rights and emphasized that now is the time to further strengthen our efforts to make significant change to improve human rights situation in North Korea.
The Special Rapporteur stated that at the UN Human Rights Council, slated to be held in March, adopting a new resolution on North Korean human rights will be discussed. He added that it will serve as an opportunity to raise awareness on horrible human rights situation in North Korean and to call for end to human rights violation in North Korea and punishment for those responsible.
The UN General Assembly, after the UN COI report was released, adopted a resolution on North Korean human rights which calls for the UN Security Council to refer North Korean human rights situation to the ICC, and the UN Security Council, for the first time, adopted human rights situation in North Korea as a formal agenda.
