National Human Rights Commission of Korea Annual Report 2015
which calls on the DPRK to join and ratify the ILO Conventions. And the UNSC adopted the
Part II
countries agreed to adopt the UN Resolution on the Situation of Human Rights in the DPRK,
North Korean human rights situation as one of its agendas in 2015, in the same context as its
and support the UN’s activities related to North Korean human rights, including monitoring on
human rights abuse in the DPRK.
In response to such actions of the international community, the DPRK recently began to
participate in international conventions for the disabled, children, and women. However, there
is no meaningful sign of improvement in North Korean human rights. In addition, we are still
at a stalemate on inter-Korean human rights issues related to Korean War prisoners detained in
North Korea, abductees, and dispersed families (family reunion events are only taking place on
a yearly basis as of 2015).
2) Purpose
The purposes of the Commission’s work on North Korean human rights are as follows:
1. objective and specialized survey and research on the North Korean human rights situation;
2. well-planned collection and management of data related to North Korean human rights;
3. more active cooperation with international organizations and experts related to North
Korean human rights issues;
4. regularized policy consultation with other government departments;
5. understanding the North Korean human rights situation through strengthening its
monitoring activities of domestic and international groups and organizations related to
North Korean human rights issues; and
6. seeking ways to improve and promote the North Korean human rights situation.
B. Major Activities
Due to the unique nature of inter-Korean relations, there are many restrictions on the work of
the Commission in relation to North Korean human rights issues. However, it spared no effort
to: (1) analyze the North Korean human rights situation, (2) issue recommendations and develop
policies to promote North Korean human rights, (3) actively engage in various activities to
discuss and highlight North Korean human rights issues and build an extensive network at home
and abroad, and (4) collect records related to North Korean human rights issues and keep the
database well-organized.
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Major Activities of NHRCK
decision in the year earlier. On June 23rd, the UN OHCHR in Seoul has opened to regularize