The UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea welcomed Mongolia’s plan to accede to two international conventions related to refugees, and encouraged further cooperation between the country and UN agencies.
(Bangkok) UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) has welcomed Mongolia's plan to accede to two conventions – Refugee Convention and UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime – and their respective Protocols.
The accession to the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees and its 1967 Protocol would set clear benchmarks for refugee status, while the Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime and its Protocol will provide clear guidelines on how to deal with human trafficking and human smuggling.
After his third field visit to Mongolia, the Special Rapporteur Vitit Muntarbhorn expressed his support for the continued and strengthened cooperation between Mongolia and UN agencies, such as UNHCR, to promote and protect human rights, including the rights of asylum seekers.
He visited the country from 15 to 21 December 2007 to assess the situation of human rights of refugees from North Korea in Mongolia as well as other human rights situation in North Korea.
However, while encouraging Mongolia to continue providing humanitarian treatment to such asylum seekers, Vitit noted that more aid facilities are needed to meet the physical and psychological needs of these refugees.
He recommended a broad capacity-building process, in cooperation with civil society. This includes training Mongolian officials on international humanitarian laws, raising awareness of parliamentarians and the public to nurture understanding of those who seek refuge.
During his visit, the Special Rapporteur met with some of the key stakeholders, such as the UN officials in Mongolia, government representatives, ambassadors, individuals including North Korean nationals seeking refuge in the country.
He commended Mongolia for having improved shelter facilities for asylum seekers from North Korea since his previous visit in 2006.
"These facilities now offer more space and are better ventilated than in the past. The Special Rapporteur was informed by those who are sheltered at these facilities that they are well cared for and that they look forward to a new life in their final destination country”, said the press release by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights issued on 21 December 2007.
Meanwhile, Vitit noted that the majority of the asylum seekers were women who lived under exploitative conditions. For example, he met women who had left their families behind, either in North Korea or a neighbouring country, after being forced into marriages. These women requested anonymity as their families would be in danger if their identities were revealed.
Others became victims of trafficking or smuggling and arrived in Mongolia after facing much hardship, while some were forced into prostitution and forced labour. Others have found employment in previous countries, but their lives were constantly threatened by their “undocumented status”.
