At the High Level Segment of the 25th Session of the UN Human Rights Council under way in Geneva, Switzerland, Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se delivered a keynote speech on March 5. In the speech, the Minister relayed the willingness of the government of the Republic of Korea, a member of the Human Rights Council and the Security Council of the UN, to actively participate in international efforts to shape a world where human dignity and the human rights are respected and the quality of life is improved for all the people in the world. He added that by doing so, the ROK government will seek to realize “the happiness of the global village,” one of core foreign policy objectives of the Park Geun-hye government.

The Minister commended the UN’s efforts in the “mainstreaming of human rights” to put top priority on the value of human rights in conducting the full range of the UN operations, including those related to peace and security, and development. In the same vein, he expressed support for “Rights Up Front” initiative pursued by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

With regard to key human rights issues of the international community, Minister Yun touched upon human rights situations in Syria and other parts of the world. In addition, in the wake of the announcement of the report by the Commission of Inquiry (COI) on Human Rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK, North Korea), he underscored the need to improve the human rights situation in the country as well as the need for the international community to address sexual violence in armed conflicts. In particular, he urged the resolution of the issue of the victims of wartime sexual slavery drafted by the Japanese imperial armed forces, the so-called “comfort women.”

Minister Yun also voiced hope that the UN will continue to make efforts to address and prevent human rights violations, including discrimination, violence and continued sexual violence in armed conflicts across the world, including in places such as Syria, South Sudan, and Central African Republic.

He noted with appreciation the submission of the COI report, which will serve as a landmark document for discussions on the DPRK's human rights situation; expressed hope that the DPRK will take substantive measures to improve its human rights situation; and highlighted the need for the international community to begin the discussions on steps to effectively follow up the COI’s recommendations.

● He voiced hope that as a follow-up to the COI’s recommendations, the UN’s relevant mechanisms will be strengthened and the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the DPRK will play the leading role.

● He emphasized the importance of all countries' upholding the principle of non-refoulement and granting rightful protection to North Korean refugees and asylum seekers.

● He called upon the DPRK to make efforts to seek resolution of humanitarian issues such as separated families’ regular exchanges, abductees and prisoners of war.

Minister Yun brought attention to the need of the international community to work to resolve the issue of sexual violence in armed conflicts and relayed the willingness of the ROK government to take an active part in such efforts. He, in particular, called for the resolution of the “comfort women” issue, which is a universal human rights issue, an unresolved issue still haunting us today.

● He pointed out that despite consistent recommendations from the UN human rights mechanisms and the adoption of resolutions by a number of countries for the past 20 years, some Japanese political leaders recently took action in defiance of them, including attempting to deny the official statement of Chief Cabinet Secretary and Spokesperson of Japan (also known as the Kono Statement).

● He urged Japan to admit its past wrongdoings, take responsibility for such deeds, and educate the correct history to the future generations.

He mentioned that the ROK, which experienced the pillage of colonization, the devastation of war, the scars of poverty and repression, and, even today, is suffering as a nation divided, sympathizes with the plights and pains of others. He emphasized that as such, the ROK is committed to be an important partner of the UN Human Rights Council in its noble endeavor to promote and protect the human rights of all.

Minister Yun was the first ROK Foreign Minister to attend a UN Human Rights Council meeting since 2006. In particular, he, as Foreign Minister of the Republic of Korea, sent to the international community a comprehensive and strong message on key human rights issues of the international community, including those involving Syria and North Korea as well as the issue of sexual violence in armed conflicts, including the comfort women victims.

Spokesperson and Deputy Minister for Public Relations of MOFA

* unofficial translation
☞ Full Text of the Keynote Speech