열린장관실

Statement by H.E. Park Jin

Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea

High-level Segment

52nd session of the Human Rights Council

Mr. President,

High Commissioner,

Distinguished Delegates,

(튀르키예 지진 애도)

Let me start by offering

my heartfelt condolences to those affected

by the devastating earthquakes

in Türkiye and Syria.

Korea stands in solidarity

with the people of these two countries.

And we are committed to supporting

recovery efforts in any way possible.  

(신임 인권최고대표 임명 평가)

I also wish to congratulate Mr. Volker Turk

on his recent appointment as High Commissioner.

Under his able leadership,

I am confident that the OHCHR

will fulfill its critical role of promoting human rights

in all corners of the world.

(인권 동향 및 세계인권선언 75주년 평가)

Mr. President,

Today, we find ourselves

at a turning point in history.

The world is facing conflicts and divisions

on a scale not seen in decades.

The challenges we face today –

from the ongoing war in Ukraine,

to the economic downturn

and climate change -

all have far-reaching implications for human rights.

As we celebrate the 75th anniversary

of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,

we should draw inspiration

from its visionary mission

to address these global challenges.

The Declaration serves as a reminder

that human rights are essential

for freedom, justice, and peace.

And as a nation

aspiring to become a global pivotal state (GPS),

Korea is committed to working towards this end.

At home, we recently ratified the

International Convention on Enforced Disappearance

as well as the Optional Protocol to the Convention

on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

(우리 중점의제)

And globally,

Korea will continue to engage constructively

with the Human Rights Council,

with a focus on the following areas.

First, we recognize the significant impact

of new technologies on human rights,

and made it a priority to address their implications.

In this regard, we will table

our third resolution at the 53rd session,

to make meaningful progress

on this important topic.

We look forward to working closely

with Member States on this resolution.

I also wish to share

that Korea is creating a Digital Bill of Rights.

The Bill aims to define

the right to enjoy digital technologies.

We believe this will help

to shape a global digital order

that prioritizes human rights and dignity.

Secondly, we believe the Council

should play a greater role  

in assisting developing countries

build capacity to advance human rights.  

This can be achieved

by providing technical assistance,

sharing best practices, and mobilizing resources.

To this end, Korea is dedicated

to sharing our experiences and

providing funding through OHCHR.

Thirdly, we recognize that as crises escalate,

the most vulnerable, especially women and girls,

bear the brunt of the impact.

And as a country with a history of women and girls

being victimized as “comfort women,”

we are committed to advancing

the women, peace and security (WPS) agenda.  

In this regard, under our

Action with Women and Peace initiative,

we are providing a global platform for dialogue

and galvanize action for upholding

the rights of women and girls.

In fact, at our latest conference,

we tried to shine a spotlight on Asian women

fighting for peace on the front lines,

including the women and girls in Afghanistan.

Finally, Korea hopes to continue working

with the Japanese government

to restore the honor and dignity of the “comfort women”,

and help heal their psychological wounds.

(우크라이나)

Mr. President,

Last week marked one year

since Russia invaded Ukraine.

The impact of the war on civilians

has been devastating,

with thousands of lives lost

and many more uprooted.  

As the High Commissioner noted,

“accountability is one of the remedies

to heal the wounds of war.”

Allegations of violations

of international humanitarian and human rights law

must be thoroughly investigated.

And perpetrators must be brought to justice.

We call upon the UN human rights mechanisms

for broader engagement to this end.

(북한)

While it is important to remain

focused on Ukraine,

we cannot overlook other parts of the world

that demand our attention,

especially North Korea.

As one of the most repressive regimes,

North Korea has a long history

of human rights abuses.

Ten years ago,

the Commission of Inquiry (COI) on Human Rights

in the DPRK was established.

The COI had issued a report

concluding there were

systematic, widespread, and grave

human rights violations in the country.

Since then, despite the relentless efforts

of the international community

to improve the rights of the North Korean people,

the situation in DPRK remains dire.

The recent COVID-19 measures

have only worsened

the already precarious humanitarian situation.

Severe economic hardship and malnutrition continue

due to the diversion of resources

to develop nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles.

And the draconian law adopted in 2020

further denies the right to information

of the North Korean people.

Simply watching or sharing South Korean movies

is now punishable by death.

This is no longer acceptable.

North Korea needs to prioritize

promoting the rights of its people,

rather than sustaining its regime.

We also urge North Korea

to immediately release South Korean nationals

detained in the North.

(인권이사회 입후보)

Mr. President,

In closing, I wish to inform you that

Korea submitted its candidature

to the Human Rights Council for the term 2025-27.

And we humbly ask the support

of all Member States.  

Thank you.