MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the situation in North Korea
15.4.2014 - (2014/2696(RSP))
pursuant to Rule 122 of the Rules of Procedure
Véronique De Keyser, Libor Rouček, Ana Gomes, Joanna Senyszyn, Lidia Joanna Geringer de Oedenberg, Mitro Repo, Tonino Picula, George Sabin Cutaş, David Martin, Liisa Jaakonsaari, Antigoni Papadopoulou on behalf of the S&D Group
See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B7-0388/2014
The European Parliament,
– having regard to its previous resolutions on the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK),
– having regard to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and to all relevant international human rights instruments, including the International Covenant of Civil and Political Rights, adopted and ratified by the DPRK,
– having regard to the 1984 Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment,
– having regard to the relevant resolutions of the UN Human Rights Council, notably the one adopted on 26 March 2014 on the situation of human rights in the DPRK as well as the UN General Assembly resolution of 18 December 2013 on the Situation of human rights in the DPRK,
-- having regard to the report of 7 February 2014 by the UN Human Rights Council Commission of Inquiry on human rights in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea,
– having regard to Rule 122(5) of its Rules of Procedure,
A. whereas the human rights and humanitarian situation in the DPRK, despite change of leadership, remains deeply alarming;
B. whereas on the 21 March 2013, the United Nations Human Rights Council established the Commission of Inquiry on human rights in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea;
C. whereas the report of 7 February 2014 of the Commission of Inquiry documented systematic, widespread and gross violations of human rights in the DPRK;
D. whereas the Commission of Inquiry found in many instances that the violations of human rights constitute crimes against humanity;
E. whereas these crimes against humanity entail extermination, murder, enslavement, torture, imprisonment, rape, forced abortions and other sexual violence, persecution on political, religious, racial and gender grounds, the forcible transfer of populations, the enforced disappearance of persons and the inhumane act of knowingly causing prolonged starvation; whereas these crimes against humanity are on-going in the DPRK because the policies, institutions and patterns of impunity remain in place;
F. whereas the Government of the DPRK rejects the mandate of the Commission of Inquiry, has refused permission to the latter to access the country and failed to cooperate in any other way; whereas the DPRK resists cooperation with the UN human rights mechanisms;
G. whereas the Commission of Inquiry recommends that the UN Security Council should refer the situation in the DPRK to the International Criminal Court (ICC) for action in accordance with the court's jurisdiction;
H. whereas the Commission of Inquiry recommends also that the UNSC should adopt targeted sanctions against those who appear to be most responsible for crimes against humanity;
I. whereas the Commission of Inquiry recommends extension of the human rights monitoring and reporting mechanisms on the DPRK;
J. whereas the European Union and DPRK human rights dialogue was suspended by the DPRK in 2003.
1. Welcomes the report of the Commission of Inquiry on the DPRK and supports its recommendations;
2. Expresses its deepest concern over the findings of the Commission of Inquiry; reiterates its strongest condemnation of the crimes and the impunity associated with the DPKR atrocities; calls on the DPRK to put an immediate end to the systematic, widespread and gross human rights violations in the country, many of which constitute crimes against humanity and thus be subject to international criminal jurisdiction;
3. Deeply regrets the refusal of the Government of the DPRK to extend any cooperation to the Commission of Inquiry on the situation of human rights in the DPRK, including access to the country; calls therefore on the Government of the DPRK to fulfil its obligations under the human rights instruments to which it is a party and to fully cooperate and engage in a meaningful dialogue with the Commission of Inquiry and other human rights and humanitarian organisations on the situation of human rights and grant them access to the country; invites the DPRK to resume the human rights dialogue with the European Union;
4. Stresses the importance of a determined EU follow-up in line with the Commission of Inquiry recommendations, in particular to ensure an ICC referral and the adoption of targeted sanctions by the UN Security Council;
5. Requests the European External Action Service to ensure that the implementation of the recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry would be a standing item on the agenda of human rights dialogues and other meetings with third countries, in particular in the dialogues with Russia and China;
6. Expresses its particular concern about the severity of the food situation the country is facing and its impact on the economic, social and cultural rights of the population; calls on the European Commission to maintain existing humanitarian aid programmes and channels of communication with the DPRK, and to secure their safe delivery to the targeted parts of the population; calls on the DPRK authorities to ensure access for all citizens to food and humanitarian assistance on the basis of need, in accordance with humanitarian principles; calls furthermore on the DPRK to invest its resources in improving the appalling living conditions of its people and not in building up its military arsenal;
7. Urges North Korea to ensure comprehensive investigation with a transparent and satisfactory outcome, to hand over finally and completely all information on the EU citizens and third-country nationals including Japan and the Republic of Korea, who are suspected to have been abducted by North Korean state agents, and to return immediately those abductees still being held in the country to their own countries of origin;
8. Calls on the DPRK to immediately and permanently stop public and secret executions and abolish death penalty; calls on the DPRK to put an end to extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances, to release political prisoners and to allow its citizens to travel freely, both within and outside the country; calls on the DPRK to allow free expression and press freedom for national and international media, and to allow its citizens uncensored access to the internet;
9. Requests the EU High Representative/Vice President of the European Commission to keep the EP informed about EU efforts to ensure the implementation of the recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry;
10. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the Council, the Commission, the EU Special Representative on Human Rights, the Government of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, the Government of the Republic of Korea, the Government of the People’s Republic of China, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the DPRK, and the UN Secretary-General.