CZECHS HAVE THEIR OWN QUESTIONS FOR THE DPRK

UNCLAS PRAGUE 000707 SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR EUR/CE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM AORC SOCI UNGA EZ SUBJECT: CZECHS HAVE THEIR OWN QUESTIONS FOR THE DPRK UNIVERSAL PERIODIC REVIEW REF: STATE 123209 ¶1. (SBU) Emboff spoke to Czech MFA Human Rights and Transition Policy Officers Jana Rezna and Petra Ali Dolakova on December 3 regarding the upcoming Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of the Democratic Peoples' Republic of Korea (DPRK). Petra Ali Dolakova indicated that like the USG, the Czechs are pleased that the DPRK will participate at the UPR on December 7. She noted that the Czech Republic has consistently pressed the DPRK hard on human rights issues and she stated that the last resolution on the DPRK was coordinated by the Czechs (as the EU Presidency leader) and the Japanese. Petra Ali Dolakova thanked us for sharing our questions for the upcoming UPR and noted that the Czechs have also publicized their questions (listed below) for the DPRK. The Czechs anticipate that many countries will wish to speak at the December 7 UPR, and for that reason they have a statement prepared and ready for release, should they be unable to speak. ¶2. (U) Begin text of Czech questions: Advance Questions of the Czech Republic to the Democratic Peoples' Republic of Korea -Presently, the DPRK is one of the last UN member states who have not yet become State Parties to the Convention Against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment which offers an important support to national efforts of States to eradicate torture. Does the DPRK consider becoming a State Party to this convention and its Optional Protocol? -What specific measures are being adopted to ensure effective protection of persons against torture? Is there a mechanism of an independent overview of detention and prison facilities and a system for complaints of potential victims? - How is ensured human rights education and training of police, prison and detention staff and their accountability for possible violations of human rights? - How is ensured protection of persons against discrimination based on social origin? Are there any complaint mechanisms to allow for an independent investigation of possible cases of discrimination? - We welcome the fact that DPRK is a State Party to four core human rights treaties (ICCPR, CEDAW, CRC and ICESCR) and we would like to know how is ensured national implementation of obligations from these treaties. End text of Czech questions. Thompson-Jones