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Discussion Paper: Laying the Human Rights Foundations for PeaceSEOUL (8 September 2020) – Human Rights issues have so far not been a prominent part of the peace process on the Korean Peninsula. The voices of the North Korean people have been absent. A new discussion paper outlines key benchmarks to assess human rights progress in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. Read more
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COVID-19 and Human Rights
COVID-19 is a test of societies, of governments, of communities and of individuals. Now is the time for solidarity and cooperation to tackle the virus, and to mitigate the effects, often unintended, of measures designed to halt the spread of the virus. Respect for human rights across the spectrum, including economic and social rights, and civil and political rights, will be fundamental to the success of the public health response. Latest Updates on COVID-19 by the UN Human Rights Office COVID-19 Guidance by the UN Human Rights Office Advice of the Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture to States Parties and National Preventive Mechanisms relating to COVID-19 (비공식 한국어 번역본) Statement on COVID-19 by the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (비공식 한국어 번역본) United Nations Policy Brief on COVID-19 and Human Rights "We are all in this together"DPRK - Relevance of Human Rights Recommendations in Responding to the Pandemic (비공식 한국어 번역본) COVID-19 and Freedom of Assembly and Association List of 2020 NEWS / STORIES The Quest for Justice: A Former Prison Guard from the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea speaks out04-01-2021A former prison guard from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) turned human rights activists is playing an impotant role in shedding light on human rights violations in the DPRK. Bridging the digital divide for escapee children from the DPRK04-12-2020Meet Insoo and Yeonbi from the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK). Insoo crossed rivers, ran through mountains and travelled across several countries to make his escape to freedom in the Republic of Korea. Women forcibly returned to North Korea suffer appalling violations in detention – UN report28-07-2020Women detained in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) are subjected to multiple and serious human rights violations by State security and police officials according to a UN human rights report published on Tuesday.UN experts urge DPRK to repatriate abductees on 70th anniversary of the Korean War25-06-2020UN human rights experts* today urged the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) to repatriate hundreds of people abducted during and after the Korean War and end decades of anguish for the families of those taken.DPRK: Humanitarian concerns growing amid COVID-19 responses, says UN expert09-06-2020GENEVA / SEOUL – A UN independent expert is alarmed that widespread food shortages and malnutrition in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) have been exacerbated by COVID-19 measures and has called for urgent Government and international action to ensure food supplies.“Leave no one behind” – Don’t forget your commitments in your response to the COVID-19 crises, UN expert urges States09-04-2020Governments worldwide and the international financial institutions should remain true to their commitment under the 2030 agenda and to their promise “to leave no one behind” in their response to the COVID crisis, a UN human rights expert said today.Bachelet calls for easing of sanctions to enable medical systems to fight COVID-19 and limit global contagion24-03-2020Broad sectoral sanctions should urgently be re-evaluated in countries facing the coronavirus pandemic, in light of their potentially debilitating impact on the health sector and human rights, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet said Tuesday.Human Rights Council holds an interactive dialogue on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, and concludes interactive dialogue on the situation of human rights in Syria10-03-2020High Commissioner for Human Rights Presents Oral Updates on the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and on Venezuela, Council Starts General Debate on Human Rights Situations that Require the Council's Attention. North Korea and the international community should join forces to tackle COVID-19, says UN expert26-02-2020The UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in North Korea, Tomás Ojea Quintana, has urged North Korea and the international community to join forces to prevent a COVID-19 outbreak in the country.UN experts urge North Korea to repatriate 11 abducted from plane hijack 50 years ago13-02-2020UN human rights experts urge the DPRK to repatriate 11 individuals who were forcibly disappeared 50 years ago after their domestic flight in the Republic of Korea was hijacked.
COVID-19 is a test of societies, of governments, of communities and of individuals. Now is the time for solidarity and cooperation to tackle the virus, and to mitigate the effects, often unintended, of measures designed to halt the spread of the virus. Respect for human rights across the spectrum, including economic and social rights, and civil and political rights, will be fundamental to the success of the public health response.
List of 2020 NEWS / STORIES
A former prison guard from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) turned human rights activists is playing an impotant role in shedding light on human rights violations in the DPRK.
Meet Insoo and Yeonbi from the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK). Insoo crossed rivers, ran through mountains and travelled across several countries to make his escape to freedom in the Republic of Korea.
Women detained in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) are subjected to multiple and serious human rights violations by State security and police officials according to a UN human rights report published on Tuesday.
UN human rights experts* today urged the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) to repatriate hundreds of people abducted during and after the Korean War and end decades of anguish for the families of those taken.
GENEVA / SEOUL – A UN independent expert is alarmed that widespread food shortages and malnutrition in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) have been exacerbated by COVID-19 measures and has called for urgent Government and international action to ensure food supplies.
Governments worldwide and the international financial institutions should remain true to their commitment under the 2030 agenda and to their promise “to leave no one behind” in their response to the COVID crisis, a UN human rights expert said today.
Broad sectoral sanctions should urgently be re-evaluated in countries facing the coronavirus pandemic, in light of their potentially debilitating impact on the health sector and human rights, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet said Tuesday.
High Commissioner for Human Rights Presents Oral Updates on the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and on Venezuela, Council Starts General Debate on Human Rights Situations that Require the Council's Attention.
The UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in North Korea, Tomás Ojea Quintana, has urged North Korea and the international community to join forces to prevent a COVID-19 outbreak in the country.
UN human rights experts urge the DPRK to repatriate 11 individuals who were forcibly disappeared 50 years ago after their domestic flight in the Republic of Korea was hijacked.
Full list of News / Stories More news stories from the UN News Centre More news stories from the UN Human Rights Office
List of 2020 STATEMENTS Oral update to the 46th session of the Human Rights Council to present the High Commissioner's report on the accountablity in the DPRK12-03-2021Geneva, SwitzerlandMedia Statement by the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea 09-06-2020Geneva and SeoulStatement of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights on the International Day against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia17-05-2020Geneva, SwitzerlandStatement by the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights on the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic and economic, social and cultural rights06-04-2020Geneva, Switzerland Statement by the High Commissioner on human rights concerns, and progress, across the world at the Human Rights Council 43rd Session27-02-2020Geneva, Switzerland Full list of STATEMENTS More statements from the UN Human Rights Office More statements from the Office of the Spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General
List of 2020 STATEMENTS