Human Rights in DPR Korea- Press Conference (23 October 2019)

Press Conference by Tomás Ojea Quintana, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.
The UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) said people escaping the country could become refugees “sur place” and called on Chinese authorities not to repatriate North Koreans.
Speaking to reporters in New York today (23 Oct), Tomás Ojea Quintana said he appreciated his engagement with the Chinese Government on the issue of North Korean escapees, adding that China did not see that the international refugee convention applied to them despite applying humanitarian principles to their situation. He said, “Sometimes you can become a refugee sur place, which is that you may have crossed the border because of, let’s say, economic reasons or personal reasons, but then once you arrive to the third country and if you are repatriated you may face ill treatment or torture, then you become a refugee sur place; and therefore the principle of non-refoulement applies.” Ojea Quintana added that the Chinese Government has not replied to this argument.
The Special Rapporteur said he has not been able to meet with North Korean escapees in other neighbouring countries either and highlighted the importance of such meetings.
SOUNDBITE (English) Tomás Ojea Quintana, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea:
“Personal contact with these North Koreas who escape is critically important. It’s crucial, especially [with] those who recently leave the country, those who have not been subject to the system of adaptation in South Korea, and those who have fresh stories about what happens in DPR Korea are very important. [They] are my primary source of information.”
Ojea Quintana said the DPRK rejects his mandate on the principle that Special Rapporteurs focused on specific countries single them out and considers them politically motivated. He said the DPRK has been more responsive with the Human Rights Council’s Universal Periodic Review (UPR) and has accepted 132 of its recommendations but argued that there was no way to verify the implementation of those recommendations.
SOUNDBITE (English) Tomás Ojea Quintana, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea:
“The overall very about the human rights agenda from the DPR Korea point of view is that, historically, human rights has been used as a threat to the system. So, it seems that now is time to start changing that perception from the North; that the United Nations human rights agenda is not threatening their system. It’s looking for improvement of the rights of and try to contribute to the improvement of the rights.”
The Special Rapporteur noted the importance of engaging with the DPRK Government for his mandate but stressed that he does also support “the important pillar of trying to hold accountable those who have committed serious human rights abuses in the DPR Korea.” He added, “We should never forget that justice and accountability are important elements for a sustainable peace and for the people, more importantly for the victims and people who had been suffering these consequences.”
Special Rapporteurs are part of the Special Procedures of the UN Human Rights Council and work on a voluntary basis. They are not UN staff and do not receive a salary for their work. They are independent from any government or organization and serve in their individual capacity.