Dear Vice-President, 

I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of the Benelux countries which aligns itself with the EU statement. 

We thank the High Commissioner for his report, which paints a deeply alarming picture of the situation in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK). Over the past decade, the human rights situation in the DPRK has further deteriorated. Most of the recommendations from the Commission of Inquiry remain unimplemented after ten years. A dialogue is not possible.

In the past seven years, there has been a significant increase in the adoption of laws and policies that provide the authorities with a legal framework for further repression. In addition, shurveillance technology has increased control over the population. Moreover, the fate of the hundreds of thousands of disappeared persons, including abducted foreign nationals, remains unknown.

Women are facing widespread sexual and gender-based violence, including domestic violence, while access to justice is limited. Forced labour has increased over the last decade. Finally and most concerning is that the  use of the death penalty has expanded, including for vaguely defined “anti-State” crimes. 

We are deeply concerned about the developments with regards to human rights in the DPRK  and urge the DPRK to implement the recommendations from the Commission of Inquiry and to ensure accountability across the country. The people of the DPRK deserve dignity, they deserve justice. 

Mr. High Commissioner, 
What steps should be taken to prevent the next decade from becoming another lost decade for human rights? Or as you stated earlier, ‘’another decade of suffering by the people of the DPRK?”