2 Nov 2012

UN / DPRK HUMAN RIGHTS

An independent United Nations expert todayvoiced continued concern about the situation in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), and urged the Government to re-think its focus on military expenditure and to allocate resources to improve the living standards of its people. UNTV

Posted at: November 2, 2012 6:12 pm

Duration: 02:10

Available in: SD

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STORY: UN / DPRK HUMAN RIGHTS
TRT: 2.10
SOURCE: UNTV 
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH/ NATS

DATELINE: 2 NOVEMBER 2012, NEW YORK CITY / FILE

SHOTLIST:

FILE – RECENT, NEW YORK CITY

1. Wide shot, exterior United Nations headquarters

2 NOVEMBER 2012, NEW YORK CITY

2. Med shot, dais
3. Med shot, journalists
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Marzuki Darusman, United Nations Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in North Korea:
"Despite repeated requests, I have not been granted access to DPRK since August 2010, since my appointment. And I regret that a fresh approach has not been forthcoming under the new leadership of DPRK. Overall during this reporting period there was no sign of improvement in the human rights situation in the DPRK. I continue to be concerned with both the human rights and humanitarian situations in the country." 
5. Med shot, journalists
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Marzuki Darusman, United Nations Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in North Korea:
"It is also disconcerting to learn of the declaration of the country's leader, Mr. Kim Jong Un, that his first, second and third priorities were to strengthen the military. Slow economic growth coupled with what is known as military first policy will of course be detrimental to the welfare of the people of the DPRK." 
7. Med shot, journalist
8. SOUNDBITE (English) Marzuki Darusman, United Nations Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in North Korea:
"I urge the Government to rethink its approach to the military first policy and to reallocate enough resources to improve the living standards. I stress the need for the international community, at the same time, to provide continued humanitarian support to the people of the DPRK without making the support contingent upon any political conditions. I call on the Government of the DPRK to repeal provisions in its legislation, particularly those of the criminal code that are not in line with international standards." 
9. Wide shot, journalists
10. Wide shot, dais

STORYLINE:

An independent United Nations expert today (2 November) voiced continued concern about the situation in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), and urged the Government to re-think its focus on military expenditure and to allocate resources to improve the living standards of its people.

The UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the DPRK, Marzuki Darusman, told reporters ahead of his briefing to the General Assembly that he continues "to be concerned with both the human rights and humanitarian situation in the country."

Darusman said "overall, during this reporting period, there was no sign of improvement in the human rights situation in the DPRK," and pointed out he has not been granted access to the country, despite repeated requests, since his appointment in August 2010.

He added that it is very concerning that some 16 million people in the DPRK – of a total population of 25 million – continue to suffer from varying degrees of chronic food insecurity and high malnutrition.

It is also "disconcerting", Darusman said, that the country's leader, Kim Jong Un, had declared that his first, second and third priorities were to strengthen the military.

The Special Rapporteur stated that "slow economic growth coupled with what is known as a 'military first policy' will of course be detrimental to the welfare of the people of the DPRK."

The expert urged the Government to re-think its approach to the "military-first policy" and re-allocate enough resources to improve people's living standards. At the same time, he stressed the need for the international community to provide continued humanitarian support to the people of the DPRK without making the support contingent on any political conditions.

In his report to the Assembly, he focused on freedom of opinion and expression, provisions of the criminal procedure code that are not in line with international standards, the case of Oh Kil-nam and his family, the situation of asylum-seekers and trafficking of persons, and the economic situation of the people of the DPRK and its impact on economic, social and cultural rights.

Among his recommendations, Darusman emphasized the need for the Government to ensure the overall protection and promotion of human rights in the country as provided under international human rights instruments, and to cooperate with the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).