Marzuki Darusman, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in North Korea, has called for the UN to instigate an investigation in to crimes against humanity in North Korea.
Mr. Darusman recently sent a report to the 47 member states that make up the current United Nations Human Rights Council. The report outlines the dire human rights situation in the country. It concludes by urging the Human Rights Council to adopt a resolution which initiates an inquiry in to the crimes against humanity committed by the regime.
The Special Rapporteur’s call for an inquiry comes less than a month after Navi Pillay, the UN’s High Commissioner for Human Rights, also publicly stated her support for a Commission of Inquiry in to human rights abuses in North Korea.
This is the second time in a recent report that Darusman has fiercely criticized the regime for their human rights record. In the fall of last year, Mr. Darusman wrote a report for the General Assembly. In the report, he remonstrated the North for their lack of respect for basic rights for their citizens. He also called for an inquiry at that time.
The UN Human Rights Council will convene for the 22nd meeting of the Council at the end of the month. The Japanese and Australian governments have shown strong support for a resolution including the setting up of a COI to be adopted at the meeting.
Source: Washington Post
