South Korean Foreign Minister Delivers Keynote Speech at the UNHRC
Minister Kang delivered the speech at a high-level segment at the 40th summit of the UNHRC
March 01st, 2019
At the high-level segment of the 40th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) on the afternoon of Monday, February 25, South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha delivered a keynote speech. In the speech, she voiced concern over systemic and grave violations of human rights in many regions of the world; particularly underscored the need for keen attention to women, children, refugees and other vulnerable groups; and expressed the commitment of the government of the Republic of Korea to taking an active part in the international efforts to safeguard and promote human rights across the world.
Minister Kang expressed concern over the fact that sexual violence in many conflict areas continued, despite the heroic efforts of fearless advocates such as Dr. Denis Mukwege and Ms. Nadia Murad, the recipients of the Nobel Prize for Peace in 2018. She added that prize had reminded the international community of the need to eliminate sexual violence as an instrument of war and to provide support to victims and survivors.
The Minister, taking note of the DPRK’s cooperation with several human rights treaty bodies of the UN, including, in particular, its recent submission of the first national report on the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, voiced hope that the DPRK would make use of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) scheduled for May 2019 as an opportunity for dialogue and cooperation with the international community.
Minister Kang brought attention to the fact that the Republic of Korea had been constructively engaging in the Human Rights Council’s work, serving as a Member four times since its creation, and had submitted its candidature for membership in the Council for the 2020-2022 term, hoping to strengthen its contribution to the Council’s response to human rights and humanitarian challenges and crises, and to assist in capacity-building for developing countries; and asked for support of all of the countries.
