DPRK: Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea 61st Session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva.

News item | 14-03-2026 | 11:36

Statement on behalf of the Benelux countries delivered by H.E. Ambassador Erica Schouten, Permanent Representative, Permanent Representation of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Geneva.

Thank you Mr. (vice) President,

I have the honor to speak on behalf of Belgium, Luxembourg, and the Kingdom of the Netherlands. We align fully with the statement made by the EU,

Allow me to express our appreciation to you, Special Rapporteur, for your excellent report on the situation of human rights in the DPRK and underscore our full support for her mandate.

As your report clearly points out, the human rights situation in the DPRK remains dire, and is – in fact – further deteriorating. We are gravely concerned by ongoing reports of systematic, widespread and grave violations of human rights in the DPRK. We call on the government of the DPRK to take immediate action to stop these violations, and in particular to take immediate action to abolish all political prison camps and to discontinue the use of torture in detention facilities.