Press Releases
Adoption of the Resolution on the Situation of Human Rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) at the Plenary Meeting of the 70th Session of the United Nations General Assembly
December 18, 2015
1 On December 18 (December 17 local time), at the Plenary Meeting of the 70th Session of the UN General Assembly currently being held in New York, the Resolution on the Situation of Human Rights in the DPRK, co-tabled by Japan and the European Union (EU), was put to vote and adopted by 119 affirmative votes (19 opposing votes, 48 abstentions; adopted for the 11th time, for 11 consecutive years), following the adoption at the Third Committee of the 70th Session of the UN General Assembly in November.
2 This year's resolution is strong in its content for it is based on last year's UN General Assembly resolution, which reflected the content of the report of the Commission of Inquiry on Human Rights in the DPRK (COI), and on the Human Rights Council's resolution of March this year. More specifically, along with the condemnation of the DPRK's systematic, widespread and gross violations of human rights as last year's resolution, it encourages the UN Security Council to take appropriate action, including through the consideration of referral to the International Criminal Court (ICC) of the situation in the DPRK and the scope for sanctions. Furthermore, the resolution also incorporates new content, such as its expectation towards the continued and active engagement of the UN Security Council on this matter, and the welcoming of the establishment of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Seoul Office.
3 The adoption of this resolution demonstrates the international community's strong concerns about human rights violations in the DPRK, including the abductions issue. Japan strongly hopes for the early resolution of the abductions issue and the improvements in the human rights situation in the DPRK as a whole and continues to strongly urge the DPRK, in cooperation with the international community, to take concrete action towards this end.
2 This year's resolution is strong in its content for it is based on last year's UN General Assembly resolution, which reflected the content of the report of the Commission of Inquiry on Human Rights in the DPRK (COI), and on the Human Rights Council's resolution of March this year. More specifically, along with the condemnation of the DPRK's systematic, widespread and gross violations of human rights as last year's resolution, it encourages the UN Security Council to take appropriate action, including through the consideration of referral to the International Criminal Court (ICC) of the situation in the DPRK and the scope for sanctions. Furthermore, the resolution also incorporates new content, such as its expectation towards the continued and active engagement of the UN Security Council on this matter, and the welcoming of the establishment of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Seoul Office.
3 The adoption of this resolution demonstrates the international community's strong concerns about human rights violations in the DPRK, including the abductions issue. Japan strongly hopes for the early resolution of the abductions issue and the improvements in the human rights situation in the DPRK as a whole and continues to strongly urge the DPRK, in cooperation with the international community, to take concrete action towards this end.