Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09DUBLIN522
2009-12-03 16:33:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Dublin
Cable title:
IRELAND ON DPRK UNIVERSAL PERIODIC REVIEW SESSION
how-toVZCZCXRO6681 OO RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHNP RUEHROV RUEHSL RUEHSR DE RUEHDL #0522 3371633 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 031633Z DEC 09 FM AMEMBASSY DUBLIN TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0349 INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE RUEHBL/AMCONSUL BELFAST IMMEDIATE 1122 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK IMMEDIATE 0209 RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA IMMEDIATE 0616
C O N F I D E N T I A L DUBLIN 000522
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/03/2019
TAGS: PHUM PREL SOCI UNGA EI
SUBJECT: IRELAND ON DPRK UNIVERSAL PERIODIC REVIEW SESSION
REF: STATE 123209
Classified By: Political Officer Todd Huizinga. Reasons 1.4(b/d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L DUBLIN 000522
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/03/2019
TAGS: PHUM PREL SOCI UNGA EI
SUBJECT: IRELAND ON DPRK UNIVERSAL PERIODIC REVIEW SESSION
REF: STATE 123209
Classified By: Political Officer Todd Huizinga. Reasons 1.4(b/d).
1. (C) On December 2, Poloff discussed reftel points with
Isolde Moylan, Director of the Asia and Oceania Bureau in the
Irish Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA),and Peter McIvor,
the Bureau's Deputy Director. They said DPRK was one of
their Bureau's priorities, and expressed their appreciation
that the USG was seeking to collaborate with them. They said
Ireland had turned in written questions in preparation for
the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) Session on freedom of
religion and right to life, liberty and security of the
person. Oral statements were being prepared on those same
topics, but they said they would circulate reftel
recommendations within both the DFA and the Irish Mission in
Geneva and seek to incorporate language supporting those
recommendations. Moylan said that UPR preparations had been
coordinated within the EU to avoid duplication and cover as
many as possible of the areas needing coverage regarding the
human rights situation in the DPRK; thusQorced labor and
the status of women, as in reftel, were certain to be covered
by other EU member states.
2. (C) Ireland's written questions, which Moylan shared with
Poloff, are reproduced below:
BEGIN IRISH WRITTEN QUESTIONS:
"Freedom of Religion: The National Report by the DPRK states
that citizens are guaranteed freedom of religious beliefs
under the constitution and the report lists examples of the
freedoms guaranteed. We would be grateful if a detailed
account of the extent of the individual's freedom of
religious worship, religious association (including access to
the media) and religious formation (viz. schools, temples,
seminaries, churches) within the DPRK, could be given. The
Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the
Democratic People's Republic of Korea noted in his latest
report that while some religious ceremonies seem to be
allowed, there are indications that practicing religion gives
rise to persecution (A.HRC/20/18). Ireland is concerned
about the Concluding Observations of the Human Rights
Committee that religious practice is repressed or strongly
discouraged in DPRK and that the practice in DPRK in this
respect does not meet the requirements of article 18 of the
Covenant (CCPR/CO/72/PRK).
"Right to Life, Liberty and Security of the Person: The
Compilation Document prepared by OHCHR notes the continuing
reports of violence committed by State authorities, such as
torture and persecution of political dissidents. It speaks
of abhorrent prison conditions which result in myriad abuses
and deprivations; collective punishments; persecution of
whole families, etc. We would be grateful if a detailed
account of the extent of the individual's rights while in
custody in the DPRK could be given. This should include also
the rights of convicted prisoners (as opposed to those on
remand). We would also be grateful to know what steps, if
any, the DPRK authorities have taken to make a list of
addresses of prisons in DPRK available, together with copies
of reports from the DPRK prisons inspection unit."
END IRISH WRITTEN QUESTIONS.
ROONEY
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/03/2019
TAGS: PHUM PREL SOCI UNGA EI
SUBJECT: IRELAND ON DPRK UNIVERSAL PERIODIC REVIEW SESSION
REF: STATE 123209
Classified By: Political Officer Todd Huizinga. Reasons 1.4(b/d).
1. (C) On December 2, Poloff discussed reftel points with
Isolde Moylan, Director of the Asia and Oceania Bureau in the
Irish Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA),and Peter McIvor,
the Bureau's Deputy Director. They said DPRK was one of
their Bureau's priorities, and expressed their appreciation
that the USG was seeking to collaborate with them. They said
Ireland had turned in written questions in preparation for
the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) Session on freedom of
religion and right to life, liberty and security of the
person. Oral statements were being prepared on those same
topics, but they said they would circulate reftel
recommendations within both the DFA and the Irish Mission in
Geneva and seek to incorporate language supporting those
recommendations. Moylan said that UPR preparations had been
coordinated within the EU to avoid duplication and cover as
many as possible of the areas needing coverage regarding the
human rights situation in the DPRK; thusQorced labor and
the status of women, as in reftel, were certain to be covered
by other EU member states.
2. (C) Ireland's written questions, which Moylan shared with
Poloff, are reproduced below:
BEGIN IRISH WRITTEN QUESTIONS:
"Freedom of Religion: The National Report by the DPRK states
that citizens are guaranteed freedom of religious beliefs
under the constitution and the report lists examples of the
freedoms guaranteed. We would be grateful if a detailed
account of the extent of the individual's freedom of
religious worship, religious association (including access to
the media) and religious formation (viz. schools, temples,
seminaries, churches) within the DPRK, could be given. The
Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the
Democratic People's Republic of Korea noted in his latest
report that while some religious ceremonies seem to be
allowed, there are indications that practicing religion gives
rise to persecution (A.HRC/20/18). Ireland is concerned
about the Concluding Observations of the Human Rights
Committee that religious practice is repressed or strongly
discouraged in DPRK and that the practice in DPRK in this
respect does not meet the requirements of article 18 of the
Covenant (CCPR/CO/72/PRK).
"Right to Life, Liberty and Security of the Person: The
Compilation Document prepared by OHCHR notes the continuing
reports of violence committed by State authorities, such as
torture and persecution of political dissidents. It speaks
of abhorrent prison conditions which result in myriad abuses
and deprivations; collective punishments; persecution of
whole families, etc. We would be grateful if a detailed
account of the extent of the individual's rights while in
custody in the DPRK could be given. This should include also
the rights of convicted prisoners (as opposed to those on
remand). We would also be grateful to know what steps, if
any, the DPRK authorities have taken to make a list of
addresses of prisons in DPRK available, together with copies
of reports from the DPRK prisons inspection unit."
END IRISH WRITTEN QUESTIONS.
ROONEY