Minister of Foreign Affairs Kang Kyung-wha (fourth from left) poses for a picture with a group of special rapporteurs representing the U.N. Human Rights Council (UNHRC), in Geneva on Feb. 27. (Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
By Lee Kyong Mi and Lee Hana
Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha met with a group of special rapporteurs representing the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) on the sidelines of the 37th session of the UNHRC, in Geneva on Feb. 27.
The UNHRC’s special rapporteurs are individuals who work on behalf of the U.N. with a specific mandate from the UNHRC. They examine, monitor and publicly report on global human rights, and compile a statement to be reviewed by the UNHRC in their regular sessions.
Addressing these special rapporteurs, Minister Kang said, “The Korean government is making increased efforts to improve various human rights issues, including women’s rights.”
“Korea will cooperate closely with the UNHRC special rapporteurs to better human rights conditions in all parts of the world,” she said.
In turn, the special rapporteurs said that Korean democracy and its human rights development had provided an example to the rest of world, and expressed their hope that Korea would play an even bigger role in furthering the human rights agenda in the years to come.
They stressed that human rights issues, such as housing, culture, education and women’s empowerment, were all mutually related, and needed to be approached comprehensively. In this regard, they asked that the Korean government place more emphasis on gender equality and women’s rights.
Minister Kang also met with U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Raad Al Hussein on Feb. 27 to discuss human rights issues in North Korea. Stressing cooperation between North Korea and the UNHRC, the minister asked for the UNHRC’s continued interest in North Korea.
km137426@korea.kr
