The European Union and other countries have requested updates to a landmark U.N. report on the human rights situation in North Korea as this year marks the 10th anniversary of its release.
In a draft resolution submitted to the U.N. Human Rights Council (UNHRC) on Wednesday, Belgium, on behalf of the EU, has requested the High Commissioner to “provide to the Human Rights Council a comprehensive update report on the human rights situation in the DPRK since 2014 … taking stock of the implementation of the commission’s recommendations, at its sixtieth Session, to be followed by an enhanced interactive dialogue.”
The U.N. Commission of Inquiry (COI) on Human Rights in North Korea was established in March 2013 to investigate the widespread human rights violations in the North.
In February 2014, the COI released its landmark report that accused North Korean officials of systematic, widespread and gross human rights violations, and made related recommendations.
This week’s draft resolution also urged North Ko
rea to ensure the right to freedom of expression by permitting the establishment of independent newspapers and reforming laws, including the North’s latest law on “protecting the Pyongyang cultural language.”
South Korea has co-sponsored the draft resolution to be adopted at the 55th regular session of the UNHRC next month.
Source: Yonhap News Agency