Mr. Chair
Norway thanks the Special Rapporteur and the Secretary-General for their current reports on the human rights situation in DPRK. We share their grave concern regarding the continued and ongoing systematic and widespread human rights violations in the DPRK.
We appreciate DPRKs engagement in the third cycle of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) in May 2019. We find it particularly useful that the Secretary-General provides references to relevant UPR recommendations that the DPRK has agreed to review.
We value this initial engagement, and urge the Government to provide information on how it is translating these commitments into concrete actions.
In this regard, we call on the DPRK to avail itself to any cooperation and assistance that UN Human Rights Mechanisms and the OHCHR may offer. We would also encourage the views of the Special Rapporteur on how countries can share experiences and inspire ways ahead.
Norway welcomes the ongoing diplomatic efforts towards achieving peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula. It represents an opportunity to improve the situation through closer cooperation with the international community.
We would appreciate comments by the Special Rapporteur as to how member states, through national or international engagement, could strengthen their support for an improved human rights situation in the DPRK.
Norway also supports the call by the Special Rapporteur on the DPRK to release detailed information about the political prison camps and invite independent international monitoring bodies to monitor them. Specifically, we are concerned about the reports of sexual violence against women in detention.
Finally, we urge the Government to engage with the High Commissioner for Human Rights, including an invitation to visit the country.
I thank you, Mr Chair