N. Korea must dismantle political camps, free inmates: U.S. officials
- 5 years ago
The United States is calling on North Korea to dismantle its political prison camps without delay.
The UN estimates as many as 120-thousand people are currently being held in dreadful conditions at the sprawling prisons that dot the regime.
Lee Seung-jae reports.
Speaking to the United Nations Human Rights Council on Thursday,... during a five-year review of North Korea's human rights record,... senior U.S. diplomat Mark Cassayre urged the regime to dismantle its political prison camps estimated to be holding tens of thousands of political prisoners.
"We recommend that North Korea first, immediately dismantle all political prison camps, release all political prisoners, institute protections against arbitrary detention that guarantee due process and fair trial, and grant international observers, including U.N. special procedures, unimpeded and unrestricted access to the country and to all detention facilities. Two - allow humanitarian assistance providers operating in North Korea, unrestricted and independent movement throughout the country, as well as direct and unimpeded access to all populations in need."
UN rights investigators estimate between 80 to 120-thousand political prisoners are being held captive in harsh detention camps in North Korea,... where torture and other violations are taking place,... that they say may amount to crimes against humanity.
However, North Korea denies the allegations,.. saying people's rights are fully ensured in the communist state.
"In the DPRK, where the human beings are held most dear, the people's right to life and fundamental freedoms are fully ensured. A robust and elaborate complaints machinery is put in place and human rights violations in whatever forms are intolerable."
The North Korean diplomat added that some countries are joining the UN Security Council to impose unilateral sanctions on the North,... saying such sanctions against the regime hamper North Korea's efforts for the protection and promotion of human rights.
This comes a day after Tomas Ojea Quintana, the UN special rapporteur on North Korea's human rights,... called on countries to challenge Pyeongyang over the prison camps,... adding it's a rare opportunity for them to directly engage with the North on human rights issues.
Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.
The UN estimates as many as 120-thousand people are currently being held in dreadful conditions at the sprawling prisons that dot the regime.
Lee Seung-jae reports.
Speaking to the United Nations Human Rights Council on Thursday,... during a five-year review of North Korea's human rights record,... senior U.S. diplomat Mark Cassayre urged the regime to dismantle its political prison camps estimated to be holding tens of thousands of political prisoners.
"We recommend that North Korea first, immediately dismantle all political prison camps, release all political prisoners, institute protections against arbitrary detention that guarantee due process and fair trial, and grant international observers, including U.N. special procedures, unimpeded and unrestricted access to the country and to all detention facilities. Two - allow humanitarian assistance providers operating in North Korea, unrestricted and independent movement throughout the country, as well as direct and unimpeded access to all populations in need."
UN rights investigators estimate between 80 to 120-thousand political prisoners are being held captive in harsh detention camps in North Korea,... where torture and other violations are taking place,... that they say may amount to crimes against humanity.
However, North Korea denies the allegations,.. saying people's rights are fully ensured in the communist state.
"In the DPRK, where the human beings are held most dear, the people's right to life and fundamental freedoms are fully ensured. A robust and elaborate complaints machinery is put in place and human rights violations in whatever forms are intolerable."
The North Korean diplomat added that some countries are joining the UN Security Council to impose unilateral sanctions on the North,... saying such sanctions against the regime hamper North Korea's efforts for the protection and promotion of human rights.
This comes a day after Tomas Ojea Quintana, the UN special rapporteur on North Korea's human rights,... called on countries to challenge Pyeongyang over the prison camps,... adding it's a rare opportunity for them to directly engage with the North on human rights issues.
Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.