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FIDH and Good Friends joint
Press release following the examination of North Korea by the
UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
Geneva, November 20 2003
On 19 and 20 November 2003, the UN Committee on Economic,
Social and Cultural Rights examined the second State Party Report
of North Korea concerning the implementation of the International
Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.
Both the FIDH and the Good Friends submitted reports to the
Committee in view of that session. The NGOs deplore a lost opportunity
for the North Korean authorities to engage into a real dialogue
towards the improvement of the humanitarian situation and the
respect for economic and social rights of the North Koreans.
“It is deplorable that the North Korean governement remained
autistic, failing to recognise the extent of the humanitarian
crisis and denying any violations of economic, social and cultural
rights”, said Sidiki Kaba, President of the FIDH. “We
are deeply concerned at the apparent absence of any concrete
measures on several key issues, such as AIDS prevention, human
trafficking on the border area, prevention of floodings and
draughts, soil erosion or effective gender equality.”
The concerns of the committee members remained without any
reply. From the outset, the Ambassador of North Korea criticised
NGO’s reports, denying their validity and considering
them as defaming the Government of North Korea.
The NGOs report an alarming picture of the famine, which devastates
the country since 1995. “A significant portion of the
population is still suffering from chronic malnutrition, and
remains deprived of adequate healthcare. The North Korean Governemnt
bears an important responsibility in the prolonging famine situation”
said Erica Kang of Good Friends. “North Koreans are also
prevented from moving from one village to another and from trading
manufactured goods”.
The NGOs pointed to the discrimination in the enjoyment of
economic and social rights based on a class policy, which determines
the access to education, health services, and allocation of
jobs.
Their reports document the violation of the trade union rights;
they deplore the views of the Governnmental delegation, for
which there is no right to strike since the factories belong
to the workers.
The North Korean delegation declared that no guarantees for
the independence of the judiciary are needed since the judiciary
is independent; that there is no unemployment since the state
allocates jobs to everybody. “This reflects the blunt
rhetoric of the North Korean authorities. The impression was
that the Committee members were speaking to a wall…”
said Sidiki Kaba, from the FIDH.
For further information please contact:
Erica Yeokyong Kang, Good Friends – Center for Peace,
Human Rights & Refugees;
1585-16 Seocho 3dong, Seochogu, Seoul, Republic of Korea http://www.goodfriends.or.kr
email:intnetwork@jungto.org ph:+82 2 587 0662
Antoine Madelin, FIDH Geneva, 079 331 24 50 |
