Korea Future is pleased to share its success in advocating for amendments to the newly adopted 2025 resolution of the United Nations Human Rights Council on the situation of human rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), which passed at the Council’s 58th Session in Geneva.
Our in-person and evidence-based briefings, direct advocacy, and position paper led to the inclusion of strengthened language and accountability relating to refouled persons (repatriated citizens) in three critical areas of the resolution: the penal system (para. 2(g)), freedom of movement and protection of refouled persons (para. 2(k)), and the treatment of refouled persons (para. 2(m)). These amendments mark an important step in the international community’s commitment to accountability and protection for the victims of human rights violations committed in and by the DPRK.
Korea Future worked with likeminded States to advocate for the explicit recognition of the human rights of refouled persons throughout the entire penal and criminal justice systems. As a result, paragraph 2(g) now reflects a broader understanding of this scope and the need for reform:
"Halting immediately all human rights violations in the entire penal system and in all places of detention, including in prison camps, re-education camps, labour training camps, labour training centres, detention centres, holding centres and waiting rooms, including the practice of forced labour and the use of torture and other cruel, inhuman ordegrading treatment or punishment and sexual and gender-based violence, dismantling all political prison camps and releasing all political prisoners, immediately ceasing the practice of the arbitrary and summary execution of persons in custody, including public executions, immediately halting the arbitrary detention of forcibly repatriated citizens, including women and girls, and ensuring that justice sector reforms provide for protections for fair trials and due process;"
In paragraph 2(k), Korea Future successfully advocated for states to be reminded of the obligation to protect refouled persons:
"Ensuring that everyone within the territory of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea enjoys the right to liberty of movement and is free to leave the country, including for the purpose of seeking asylum outside the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, without interference by the authorities of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, and also ensuring the enjoyment of the related right to be free from arbitrary detention, including for women and girls who are forcibly repatriated;"
Our contribution also resulted in a strengthened commitment to the humane treatment of refouled persons in paragraph 2(m), particularly the protection of vulnerable groups in detention, including women, children, and persons with disabilities:
"Ensuring that citizens of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea who have been expelled or repatriated to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea are able to return in safety and dignity, are treated humanely and are not subjected to any kind of human rights violation, including enforced disappearance, arbitrary execution, torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, and sexual and gender-based violence, and providing information on their status and treatment, in particular of women, children and persons with disabilities in detention;"
These developments follow Korea Future’s ongoing efforts to advance accountability. We remain committed to supporting legal and political efforts that seek justice, uphold the rule of law, and protect the rights of those affected by violations committed by DPRK state actors.
