Following a critical dialogue on the ongoing human rights crisis in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) at the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly, a detailed resolution on “The Situation of Human Rights in the DPRK” tabled in New York was adopted by the Assembly on 17 December 2024, following the Third Committee’s draft and marking a pivotal moment for international accountability efforts.
The resolution, passed and adopted without a vote, condemns in the strongest terms the systemic, widespread, and gross violations of human rights committed in and by the DPRK, including those that may amount to crimes against humanity. It also highlights persistent reports of torture, enforced disappearances, and the forcible transfer of populations, underscoring the urgent need for international accountability.
A significant indicator of escalating international concern was the number of co-sponsoring states, which rose to 61 following the drafting process against 40 for the previous annual resolution, showcasing growing momentum among member states to address the systemic violations in the DPRK.
Korea Future was proud to contribute to this process and be present during the session. Ahead of the General Assembly’s discussions, we provided targeted language suggestions to better highlight the human rights situation in the DPRK with recent information gathered by Korea Future and which, in turn, have been reflected in the new resolution at hand. Specifically:
Paragraph 2(ii): Adapting the scope of concern over the alarming violations occurring within North Korea's extensive “penal system”, with a detailed examination of specific facility types recorded by our investigations, “including political prison camps, re-education camps, labour training camps, labour training centres, detention centres, holding centres and waiting rooms”.
Paragraph 2(viii): Highlighting the specific experiences of women and girls in detention amongst the broader spectrum of violations and gendered abuses, occurring “throughout the entire system, including through forced abortions, invasive body cavity searches and other forms of sexual and gender-based violence”.
This resolution signals another crucial and necessary step toward stronger global advocacy and accountability mechanisms. Korea Future remains focused on the future and committed to further amplifying the voices of survivors and ensuring that the DPRK’s systematic human rights violations stay firmly on the international agenda.
