Statement by the Press Secretary/Director-General for Press and Public Relations, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on the Adoption at the Third Committee, United Nations General Assembly, of the Resolution on the "Situation of Human Rights in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea"
November 18, 2006
- On the morning of November 17th (local time), the resolution on the "Situation of human rights in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK)" was again approved this year, by a majority vote at the Third Committee of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. Japan had drafted and submitted the resolution in cooperation with the EU.
- The content of this year's resolution was stronger than last year's, while including the points that the abduction issue is an international concern and a violation of the human rights of the nationals of other sovereign countries, that it is necessary for the international community to strengthen its coordinated efforts, and that the Secretary-General of the United Nations will submit a comprehensive report on the situation in the DPRK. The Government of Japan highly values the fact that this strengthened resolution was adopted with a greater majority than last year.
- The Government of Japan considers the adoption of the resolution at the Third Committee of the UN General Assembly, composed of 192 member states, has great significance as sending a clear message by the international community through its strengthened coordination toward the improvement of the situation of human rights in the DPRK including the early settlement of the abduction issue. The Government of Japan also believes that the resolution will put pressure on the DPRK to improve its human rights situation.
- With the adoption of this resolution, Japan intends to continue to call strongly on the DPRK to settle the abduction issue promptly by sincerely responding to the voice of the international community expressed in the resolution. The Government of Japan will also strongly urge the DPRK to act sincerely in improving its human rights situation by, among others, accepting the UN Special Rapporteur on the DPRK's human rights situation.
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