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North Korean human rights abuses systematic and unparalleled, says UN
Source: The Guardian
North Korean human rights abuses systematic and unparalleled, says UN
Peter Walker
theguardian.com, Monday 17 February 2014 13.00 GMT
North Korea's leadership is committing systematic and appalling human rights abuses against its own citizens on a scale unparalleled in the modern world, including crimes against humanity, a United Nations report has concluded.
The UN's commission of inquiry on human rights in North Korea has been gathering evidence for almost a year – including in an unprecedented series of public hearings in four cities around the world, which heard sometimes harrowing testimony from North Korean escapees. Its report cited the country's system of secret prison camps, deliberate starvation and a complete lack of free thought as among probable crimes against humanity.
The inquiry chairman has personally written to North Korea's leader, Kim Jong-un, to warn that he could face trial at the international criminal court (ICC) in The Hague, saying that as head of state and overall commander of the country's military Kim bears personal culpability.
"The commission wishes to draw your attention that it will therefore recommend that the United Nations refer the situation in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to the international criminal court to render accountable all those, including possibly yourself, who may be responsible for the crimes against humanity," Michael Kirby, the Australian retired judge who chaired the panel, wrote to Kim, using the formal name for North Korea.
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Peter Walker
theguardian.com, Monday 17 February 2014 13.00 GMT
North Korea's leadership is committing systematic and appalling human rights abuses against its own citizens on a scale unparalleled in the modern world, including crimes against humanity, a United Nations report has concluded.
The UN's commission of inquiry on human rights in North Korea has been gathering evidence for almost a year – including in an unprecedented series of public hearings in four cities around the world, which heard sometimes harrowing testimony from North Korean escapees. Its report cited the country's system of secret prison camps, deliberate starvation and a complete lack of free thought as among probable crimes against humanity.
The inquiry chairman has personally written to North Korea's leader, Kim Jong-un, to warn that he could face trial at the international criminal court (ICC) in The Hague, saying that as head of state and overall commander of the country's military Kim bears personal culpability.
"The commission wishes to draw your attention that it will therefore recommend that the United Nations refer the situation in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to the international criminal court to render accountable all those, including possibly yourself, who may be responsible for the crimes against humanity," Michael Kirby, the Australian retired judge who chaired the panel, wrote to Kim, using the formal name for North Korea.
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Read more: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/feb/17/north-korea-human-rights-abuses-united-nations
Also: Torture, executions, rapes: the UN's dossier on North Korea's state abuses
