The United Nations Role in World Wide Disasters Research Paper

The United Nations Role in World Wide Disasters - Research Paper Example The gradual technological improvements, though useful, have more than detached man from nature and doubled the vulnerability of the entire human population on the planet earth. The modern era disaster occurrences have only become more frequent and hazardous with partly irreparable consequences. The frequent reports by the United Nations showing a steady increase of disasters across the globe only serve to confirm the magnitude of suffering at hand (UN/ISDR, 2013a). Founded in 1945 after the catastrophic World War II as a replacement to the hitherto redundant League of Nations, The United Nations serves a fundamental purpose in ensuring that the humanitarian suffering caused by the natural as well as man-made disasters are not only prevented, but firmly brought under control when they occur. According to the UN reports, approximately 80 percent of the countries affected mostly by disasters are predominantly in the developing world (Alexander, 1991). Such areas rank low in terms of hum an development as indicative by their income per capita that ranges in the near survival levels. Disaster occurrences in such countries often leave behind a trail of high numbers of human casualties, sweeping away almost the entire property that suspends such livelihoods. The deadly tsunami that struck Asia in December 2004, for instance, left approximately 200,000 people dead, scores of hundreds missing and property worth millions of dollars in damages (UN/ISDR, 2006). Losses of such magnitude partly result from unsustainable development practices that do stand the tests of time (Mileti, et al., 1995). To be sure, proper land use planning is often non-existent. Even with the perennial environmental degradation that continues to bite hard into the daily livelihoods of the population, disaster preparedness is often relegated into the periphery (Aleskerov et al., 2005). Owing to the limited capacity to tackle major disasters, the United Nations roles out numerous initiatives and progr ams annually in a bid to ensure that efficient proactive planning approaches goes into helping those in vulnerable conditions. Disasters disrupt not only the livelihoods of those affected but also hinder national as well as international efforts in advancing development agendas aimed at eradicating poverty among the most vulnerable. The United Nations views disaster reduction strategies as an integral component of reducing world poverty and inculcating sustainable development practices. Through the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction, the United Nations works across the globe with ultimate goal of â€Å"enabling societies to become aware of the dangers posed by the possible natural hazards as well as those related technological advancements within their surroundings with the view of minimizing any possible human, economic and social damages† (UN/ISDR, 2013c). To meet this objective, the office of United Nations via numerous agencies under its operational management provides proactive financial support to international disaster risk reduction actors to facilitate early warning activities and mitigation measures as recommended by the Hyogo Framework (UN/ISDR,

Five Years Marketing Plan Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Five Years Marketing Plan - Essay Example The company initially started its operations in UK as a catalogue business company. The company achieved success in its initial stages only and soon after that it made a plan of opening a website in UK. This plan helped Hotel Chocolat to secure its position in the market. The company started exporting chocolates to United States by means of an online ordering website. It started expanding its business operations in the domestic land and has opened 23 stores in the outlets of John Lewis and 43 stores in United Kingdom. Hotel Chocolat produces fresh chocolates and the taste of these chocolates is much more adventurous as they are produced using more cocoa and less sugar. The company has also worked with the local farmers of Ghana in order to learn the technique of cocoa plantation. The company started various other projects apart from producing chocolates. Hotel Chocolat has opened a restaurant at the cocoa estate in Saint Lucia. Presently the company is planning for internationalisati on. Existing Market Position of the Company Hotel Chocolat is one among very few companies which has opened new stores in the high streets of UK as well as expanded its operations outside United Kingdom. The company follows focus marketing strategy presently and focuses only on the chocolate segment. The chocolate market is very competitive and is dominated by some brands like the Thorntons and Godiva. The market focuses mainly on four main time periods i.e. Christmas, Mother’s Day, Valentine’s Day and Easter. In this tough competition, the company maintains its uniqueness by providing fresh chocolates, with less sugar and more cocoa, to the customers. It has achieved a successful position in the chocolate market by targeting those customers who buy the premium chocolates as gifts. The company is planning to open new stores in UK. The company has also planned for further expansion in the overseas market with new concept stores like Roast & Conch. In these stores, the custo mers will be able to see the roasting of the cocoa beans. Goal formulation: Marketing Objectives of the Company (for next 5 years) The marketing objectives of Hotel Chocolat (for the next five years) can be evaluated by the SMART approach. The specific objective of Hotel Chocolat is to achieve a successful position in the new markets where it is planning to expand its operations within the next few years by the implementation of appropriate promotional and other marketing strategies. The measurable objective of the company is minimization of the cost structure and implementation of the promotional and marketing strategies in very cost effective manner. The achievable objective of Hotel Chocolat is to reach to the position of the financial break even by the increase of the sales and minimization of the operating expenses. The realistic objective of Hotel Chocolat is to gain a remarkable position in those areas where it has planned to expand its business operations within the business plan of next 5 years. The time bound objective of the company is the fulfilment of all the above mentioned objectives within a time limit of next 5 years. Strategy formulation Target Customers Kantar Media has pointed out the fact that customers within the

Journal 2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Journal 2 - Essay Example Because of the debates, patient’s rights that included consent to treatment, access to information, and the ability to complain came to application under the law1. However, it took the continued effort of the Patient organizations to advocate for these rights, their realization, in popularizing their discourse in the National Health Service in Britain. The article recognizes that there were various challenges towards the realization and implementation of these patients’ rights. As such, the idea of patients having rights in relation to health care is debatable. Indeed, both supporters and detractors of the National Health Service in Britain use the patient’s rights to argue their positions. The entailed patient’s rights involves the right to access to health services, confidentiality, consent, involvement in their own health care, quality of care and the environment. They also involve right to air complaints and get feedbacks. Moreover, the introduction of the NHS Constitution significantly developed the British health care and promoted the patients’ rights. In addition, organizations like the Patients Association, the Community Health Councils, and the Consumers Association among others advocated for patient’s rights from as early as the 1960s2. The article stipulates that the language of rights has since evolved and attracted diverse applications in the 1970s and 1980s. Furthermore, in the 20th Century, there have been distinct, but overlapping, visions of health rights. These rights include health as a human right, as a citizens’ right, and as a consumers right. However, in Britain, these rights attracted no contradictions between the state and citizen. Indeed, in 1948, the United Nations made a universal declaration of human rights contemplating the right to health on a global level. In fact, health forms part of the development goals in many nations since the 1980s with an aim of tackling epidemics. However, in Britain,

School Social Workers On Child Development Social Work Essay

School Social Workers On Child Development Social Work Essay There is a saying that there is nothing new under the sun as far as the calamities of the world go. This saying may very well be true, but because of an increasingly larger population, school-aged children of today are forced to face more problems much earlier than their predecessors did. Because todays children have so much to face, it is important for them to have a good support base at home as well as at school. Together with other school-based mental health professionals, school social workers are expected to support the needs of at-risk students attending public schools (Altshuler Webb, 2009). In order to provide children with the support they need for positive development, school systems need social workers that have been properly trained in choosing the correct intervention method and in proper service delivery. The National Association of Social Workers identifies four major areas of school social work practice: Early intervention to reduce or eliminate stress; within or between individuals or groups; problem-solving services to students, parents, school personnel, or community agencies; early identification of students at risk; and work with various groups in school to develop coping, social, and decision-making skills (). Social workers have been providing services to public schools for over a century, and there are many ways school social workers can utilize their knowledge, skills, and values to improve the lives of students. The services that workers provide have evolved over time but have maintained an overall purpose of addressing environmental barriers that negatively affect the ability of students to succeed academically (Altshuler Webb, 2009). There are several factors that determine the need for intervention by social workers. Family issues, attendance problems, and academic concerns are all prevalent factors presented for intervention (Kelly Stone, 2009). There are also issues of neighborhood violence, drug use, deviant peers, teen pregnancy, and poor impulse control. Early life experiences (while not the sole determinants of later life mental health and behavior disorders) may be important influences in childrens development and children living with substantial environmental stress early in life are at increased risk for aggressive and antisocial behavior in youth and adolescence (Hudley Novak, 2007). It is up to todays school social workers to find and implement more effective strategies for decreasing and eliminating these behaviors, especially now that behaving aggressively has become an essentially automatic response to stressors in some youths. Social workers can assist students in dealing with stress or emotional problems by working directly with the children and their families. By acting as institutional and cultural brokers between families and their childrens school, social workers are filling a very important void. This is especially significant for schools where often the least successful students come from families who are experiencing poverty-related barriers and constraints. Bridging the gap between school and families is important because when parents are involved effectively in their childrens schooling, student achievement typically improves (Alameda-Lawson, Lawson Lawson, 2010). Because school success is critical to future life tasks, interventions are worth our attention. School social workers broad skill sets, ranging from advanced clinical to highly skilled generalist approaches (with particular emphasis in school mission, functioning, and processes), are essential to the assessment process and design of effective interventions. All students, their families, and school personnel benefit from access to the expertise of school social workers in implementing system level universal (school or district), evidencebased programs, as well as early-targeted interventions. This expertise is particularly critical in working with students struggling with behavioral, emotional, family system, and ecological challenges to ensure a truly systemic, comprehensive assessment. Workers can also address problems such as misbehavior, truancy, teenage pregnancy, and drug and alcohol problems and advise teachers on how to cope with difficult students. Some of the methods that school social workers use are individual, group, and family/community therapy. Some workers teach workshops to entire classes on topics like conflict resolution. School social workers extend opportunities for students to volunteer, serve others, or contribute to their communities by referring students to existing service opportunities; facilitating service projects and clubs; or creating an array of individualized opportunities for students to help peers, younger students, adults, or the community. By encouraging students to participate in service, social workers are helping students to develop more protective and promotive factors such as self-esteem, friendships, and confidence, as well as ensuring that the students gain familiarity with the social worker and feel more comfortable going to him or her for help with crises. Integrating youth development principles into school social work practice is a powerful application of the strengths perspective and an important way to build resiliency. Youth development activities such as service can also be conceptualized as tiered interventions within a response to intervention and positive behavioral interventions and supports system (Leyba, 2010). While it is vitally important for the social worker to forge a positive and trusting relationship with students and their families, it is just as important that the worker remember to be empathetic without being sympathetic. Delivery of needed services is tantamount, but there are policies, ethics, and rules of practice to be considered at all times. The National Association of Social Workers and School Social Work Association of America have recommended specific requirements for professional preparation and competency of the school social worker. Social workers shall function in accordance with the values, ethics, and standards of the profession, recognizing how personal and professional values may conflict with or accommodate the needs of diverse clients. To work in a school setting, a social worker must have an MSW degree from a Council on Social Work Education approved program. The worker must have completed a school-based internship and have taken In conclusion, social workers provide an invaluable service to the school system. Today, school social workers are represented across the 50 states, performing duties in a wide variety of roles, all of which are ultimately focused on facilitating systemic change to support the academic success of students (Altshuler Webb, 2009).

The Causes of Crime Essay -- Crime Violence Criminology Essays

The causes of crime seem to be indefinite and ever changing. In the 19th century, slum poverty was blamed; in the 20th century, a childhood without love was blamed (Adams 152). In the era going into the new millennium, most experts and theorists have given up all hope in trying to pinpoint one single aspect that causes crime. Many experts believe some people are natural born criminals who are born with criminal mindsets, and this is unchangeable. However, criminals are not a product of heredity. They are a product of their environment and how they react to it. This may seem like a bogus assumption, but is undoubtedly true. There is a study devoted to finding the causes of crime and what makes people criminals. This study is appropriately called criminology. There are two main theories which criminologists categorize causes of crime, and sometimes an individual would be subject to both their influences. Theories in the first group locate the causes of crime inside the individual, which focus on stress and other psychological factors. Conversely, theories categorized in the second group focus the causes of crime on factors that are out of the control of the certain individual. These influences are sociological. Some psychologists theorize that criminals are born with a predisposition towards mental illness. Even though this is a widely accepted idea, for a mental illness to come out, it has to be catalyzed by the person's environment. In other words, even if a person were born with the biological makings of a criminal, depending on how he was raised and how he lived life would determine if this inherent attribute would manifest. There needs to be an external cause to trigger the characteristic. Many criminologists are stuck on developing biological explanations to the make-up of criminals. These theories are often called "bad seed" theories. They hold that criminals are born and not developed. The most recently discovered "bad seed" theory is that some men are born with an extra Y chromesone that makes them more aggressive (Adams 157). The problem with this theory is if one of these men with the extra chromosome was raised in a way that would inhibit the individual's trait, you would never see the characteristics of this extra chromosome and it would just devalue this theory. Another problem with this theory is that there are criminals who just happen to ... ...ves them the confidence they need to continue their criminal behavior without fear of getting caught. And there are enough people in a city that no matter how you act; you could find people just like you. If you have a tendency to get in trouble a lot, you could easily find someone to encourage your actions. A social status, whether you like it or not, can drag you into or out of a life of crime. A dead-broke bum with no house is forced to steal food in order to stay alive, and steal clothing in order to stay warm. Of course, you could suffer and not break any laws, but the immediate need would usually outweigh the consequences. You may not be literally forced into a life of crime, but it just might be the best choice you have. Being in such need makes stealing seem much more attractive than it would if you had no need to steal. As stated in the preceding paragraphs, criminals are influenced and not born. You can easily infer this on your own, but with the help of this report it seems much more obvious. The most obvious and consistent influence in the development of a person seems to be the environment in which they live in and the influence, or lack thereof, of their parents.

Russia Georgia Conflict

During the week prior to the South Ossetia attack, Russian troops conducted a military exercise with one strategy being a hypothetical attack made by unnamed forces on Georgia’s province of South Ossetia. The attack involved more than 8,000 troops and the aim was to protect â€Å"Russian citizens† and offer humanitarian aid. The scenario was considered as a threat of invasion by the Georgian Foreign Ministry. In result Georgia conducted its own military exercise consisting of about 1,000 US troops, 600 Georgian troops, and token forces from Ukraine, Armenia, and Azerbaijan.It was in South Ossetia that tensions escalated, when an Ossetian village police chief was killed by a bomb and the head of the pro – Georgian government escaped injury from a road side mine. That night both the South Ossetians and the Georgians launched artillery attacks on each other’s villages and check points resulting in about a dozen killed or wounded. Calls for both sides to show restraint and resume peace talks were issued by the European Union, the OSCE, and the Council of Europe.Georgia’s explanation of the attack was that â€Å"they were left with no other options after an increasing number of attacks from separalist in South Ossetia. † In response Russian President Medvedev declared a state of war upon Georgia, claiming that ‘women, children and the elderly are now dying in South Ossetia† and that â€Å"most of them are citizens of the Russian Federation. † He also stated â€Å"those who are responsible will be duly punished. Through mediation by the French presidency of the European Union, the parties reached a preliminary ceasefire agreement on 12 August, signed by Georgia on 15 August in Tbilisi and by Russia on 16 August in Moscow. Several weeks after signing the ceasefire agreement, Russia began pulling most of its troops out of uncontested Georgia. Russia established buffer zones around South Ossetia and created c heckpoints in Georgia's interior. These forces were eventually withdrawn from uncontested Georgia.

Human Rights in North Korea

DIRECTORATE-GENERAL FOR EXTERNAL POLICIES POLICY DEPARTMENT POLICY BRIEFING Human rights in North Korea Abstract The human rights record in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK, or North Korea) has been widely condemned by the international community, including by the EU and the European Parliament. The ascension of the latest ruler of the Kim dynasty, Kim Jong-un, in December 2011 has not brought tangible change. Since the country is practically closed to foreigners, the human rights situation can only be evaluated based on the testimonies of refugees and defectors.Their reports consistently reveal blatant and unrepentant violations of human rights, which aim to elicit the total submission of the country's citizens to the regime and its ideology. While the majority of North Koreans suffer from permanent hunger, those who try to leave the country face harsh punishment upon repatriation. Citizens suspected of being disloyal to the regime and their families are placed, witho ut trial, in prison camps with abhorrent conditions. North Korea is among the countries carrying out the highest numbers of executions in the world.FOR EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT INTERNAL USE ONLY DG EXPO/B/PolDep/Note/2012_265 PE 491. 441 September 2012 EN Policy Department, Directorate-General for External Policies This Policy Briefing was requested by the European Parliament's delegation for relations with Australia and New Zealand. AUTHOR: Anete BANDONE Directorate-General for External Policies of the Union Policy Department WIB 06 M 85 rue Wiertz 60 B-1047 Brussels Feedback to anete. [email  protected] europa. eu is welcome. Editorial Assistant: Pia VANNESTE LINGUISTIC VERSION: Original: ENABOUT THE PUBLISHER: Manuscript completed on 17 September 2012.  © European Union, 2012 Printed inBelgium This Policy Briefing is available on the intranet site of the Directorate-General for External Policies, in the Regions and countries or Policy Areas section. To obtain paper copies, please send a request by e-mail to: [email  protected] europa. eu. DISCLAIMER: Any opinions expressed in this document are the sole responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position of the European Parliament.Reproduction and translation, except for commercial purposes, are authorised, provided the source is acknowledged and provided the publisher is given prior notice and supplied with a copy of the publication. 2 Human rights in North Korea TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Overview Human rights violations International treaties Reactions of the international community Annexes 4 5 10 10 14 3 Policy Department, Directorate-General for External Policies 1. Overview The Democratic People's Republic of Korea is an authoritarian state that emerged after the Second World War and has been ruled by the Kim dynasty ever since.The latest national elections, held in March 2009, were neither free nor fair. North Korea's human rights record is based principally on the testimonies of refugees and defectors. North Korea’s human rights situation is difficult to assess: the access of foreigners to the country is restricted and those who do enter are under close surveillance. North Koreans are not allowed to leave the country, which means that reports are mainly based on the contributions of refugees and defectors.Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) report that North Korea commits blatant human rights violations: arbitrary and indefinite imprisonment, political prison camps, torture, public executions, suppression of workers’ rights, and prohibitions on freedoms of expression, media, movement, association and religion 1 . North Korea's human rights violations have been widely condemned, including by the United Nations General Assembly and Human Rights Council, which have adopted several resolutions.Nevertheless, the North Korean government insists that there are no human rights issues in the country, arguing that its system has bee n chosen by the people: ‘The words â€Å"human rights† sound absolutely nonsensical in the DPRK where the dignity and independent rights of the working masses are fully guaranteed legally and institutionally. ‘ 2 No tangible changes have been seen since Kim Jongun assumed power in December 2011. The ascension of Kim Jong-un after the death of his father Kim Jong-il in December 2012 has hardly changed the grim situation, although Kim Jong-un has spoken about improving people's lives.As recently as December 2011 DPRK authorities issued a statement indicating they would ‘annihilate' up to three generations of a family if a family member fled the country during the 100-day period of mourning following the death of Kim Jong-il Border controls were also intensified 3 . 1 2 US State Department Korean Central News Agency 2012 3 ICNK, Kim Jong Un Tightens Grip along Border , 16 January 2012 4 Human rights in North Korea 2. Human rights violations 2. 1. ExecutionsNort h Korea's criminal code foresees the death penalty for more than 20 crimes, including smuggling and dealing narcotics, stealing state property and counterfeiting currency. The code also allows for arbitrary decisions by the authorities, who can determine ‘the gravest cases' or ‘extremely serious cases' 4 . In 2011 North Korea executed 30 or more people, placing the country among the ranks of those carrying out the greatest number of executions in the world, according to Amnesty International 5 . 2. 2. Torture and ill-treatmentPersons who are accused and arrested are often subjected to torture to enforce obedience and obtain bribes or information, despite the fact that North Korea's criminal code prohibits torture or inhuman treatment. According to Human Rights Watch, common forms of torture include sleep deprivation, beatings with iron rods or sticks, kicking and slapping, and enforced sitting or standing for hours. A study conducted in 2010 found that 60 % of previously imprisoned refugee respondents had witnessed a death due to beating or torture 6 . . 3. Some 200 000 people live in prison camps; incarcerated with their families and without trial. Prison camps According to Amnesty International, around 200 000 prisoners (about 0. 85 % of the population) are held in six large political prison camps (gwalliso). People who are suspected of not being loyal to the regime are sent to these camps without a trial, often with three generations of their family — spouses, children and parents — and mostly without any hope of release.The prisoners may have committed ‘crimes' such as not dusting a portrait of the leader or being Christian 7 . North Korea has never recognised 4 Report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in The Democratic People's Republic of Korea 5 Amnesty International, Death Sentences and Executions 2011 6 Human Rights Watch (HRW) World Report 2012 7 The Economist, The gulag behind the goose-steps, 21 April 2012 8 The Situation of Detainees in Gulag System 5 Policy Department, Directorate-General for External Policies that these camps exist.Conditions in the camps approach those of slavery, with starvation and no medical treatment. Prisoners, including children, are forced to work in conditions approaching slavery, e. g. , mining, logging and farming, seven days a week for twelve hours or more per day. They are frequently subjected to torture and kept on the verge of starvation. A defector has described the daily ration as approximately twenty grains of corn per prisoner. Convicts search through cow dung for undigested grain. No medical treatment is provided in the camp.Pregnant women are subjected to forced abortions or forced to give up their babies upon delivery to be murdered or abandoned. 8 . In 2011, Amnesty International said it believed North Korea's prison camps were expanding. The organisation based its findings on satellite pictures 9 ; prison camps can be seen on Google Earth. 2. 4. Food shortages North Korea has been dependent on food aid since famine in the mid1990s. In March 2011, the UN estimated that more than six million vulnerable persons in North Korea needed immediate international food aid 10 .With food shortages reaching more than one million tonnes, the World Food Programme called it the worst famine in a decade. Among the causes are floods, an extremely harsh winter; discriminatory food policies that favour the elite, and the economic mismanagement of a monetary devaluation scheme in November 2009 that wiped out many peoples’ savings. In his February 2012 report, United Nations (UN) Special Rapporteur Marzuki Darusman called on the DPRK government to allocate more resources to agriculture than to its military sector 11 .At the same time, he emphasised that food ‘should never ne used as an instrument of political and economic pressure' (referring to a 1999 General Comment on the right to food by the UN Committee on E conomic, Social and Cultural Rights) 12 . Nevertheless, the U. S. suspended its plans for food aid to North Korea after the announcement of a new rocket launch in March. In June 2012, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Resident Coordinator in Pyongyang, Jerome Sauvage, reported that one in two children in North Korea is stunted due to malnourishment 13 .The year 2013 could be particularly difficult for North Koreans as the 9 Amnesty International, Amnesty International Report Exposes North Korean Gulags, June 2011 10 HRW World Report 2012 11 Report of the Special Rapporteur 2012 12 Report of the Special Rapporteur 2012 13 Reuters, U. N. optimistic on U. S. aid for North Korea, food still a problem, June 2012 6 Human rights in North Korea country may face a new famine due to losses of up to 13 % of its grain harvest this year, according to a recent report by a South Korean official 14 .Losses result from a drought that followed widespread flooding this summer and that ob liged the country to request immediate food assistance. The regime has announced that it has set a goal for 2012 — the centenary of the birth of Kim Il Sung, the first leader of the DPRK — to develop its economy, improve its people's lives and attract foreign investment 15 . In August 2012, the uncle of North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un, Jang songthaek, met China's President Hu Jintao to explore ways to revive North Korea's decimated economy and advance beyond the Marxist economic model 16 .There are also reports of plans for financial reform 17 . 2. 5. Media and internet Kim Jong-II’s death clearly demonstrated how tight the government's grip remains on the media and information: the news was broadcast on North Korean state television only two days later 18 . All sources of media, such as radio and television, are strictly controlled by the government and heavily censored. The contents of national media almost entirely consist of political propaganda and the pro motion of the leaders' personality cults. Internet use is limited to the political elite.Mobile phone access is limited to an internal network (one million users or 4 % of the inhabitants), and international calls can only be made by foreigners and the political elite 19 . Fines for making an international call can be as high as KPW 1 million (about USD 1 100), coupled with one week of detention 20 . North Korea is ranked second-to-last out of 179 countries in the World Press Freedom Index, before Eritrea 21 . 2. 6. Freedom of expression The government regularly evaluates its citizens' loyalty to the regime with the help of a large network of informants.Persons considered subversive are punished; disloyal inhabitants of Pyongyang are expulsed from the capital 22 . 14 15 Reuters, Destitute North Korea's grain harvest seen falling sharply, 4 September 2012 CIA World Fact Book 16 Reuters, China's Hu gives show of support for North Korea, 17 August 2012 17 ICNK, The Signs of Financial R eform in North Korea, 28 August 2012 18 Reporters Without Borders: North Korea 19 US State Department 20 Reporters Without Borders: North Korea 21 Reporters Without Borders: World Press Freedom Index 22 HRW World Report 2012 Policy Department, Directorate-General for External Policies 2. 7. Freedom of assembly and association The country's 1992 constitution includes provisions for freedom of assembly and association, although this is not respected in practice. All organisations are created by the government 23 . 2. 8. Freedom of religion The DPRK is officially an atheist state. Autonomous religious activities are almost non existent, although the government sponsors some religious groups to create the illusion of religious freedom 24 .The constitution foresees freedom of religion, while specifying that ‘no one may use religion as a means by which to drag in foreign powers or to destroy the state or social order† 25 . In 2009, the South Korean Investigative Commission on Crime Against Humanity reported on the public execution of a Christian woman accused of distributing the Bible. The Bible is banned in the North 26 . 2. 9. Freedom of movement: refugees Leaving the country without state permission is a crime in North Korea.Those who leave — most often to go to China — face harsh punishment if repatriated. Moreover, as mentioned above, DPRK authorities issued a statement in December 2011 indicating that they would ‘annihilate' up to three generations of a family if a family member fled the country during the 100-day period of mourning for the death of Kim Jong-il 27 . Border controls were also intensified last year 28 . Over the years, up to 400 000 North Koreans have fled the country, and many are living in neighbouring China as illegal immigrants.They are routinely repatriated, despite China's obligation to offer protection to refugees under international law, the Refugee Convention of 1951 and the Convention's 1967 Protocol, to which China is a state party 29 . In March 2012, at least 41 North Korean refugees were forcibly repatriated by the People’s Republic of China (PRC) to the DPRK 30 . In June four of them were executed 31 . Up to 400 000 North Koreans have escaped. Those who are repatriated face harsh punishment. 23 US State Department 2011 Human Rights Reports: Democratic People's Republic of Korea 24 25 CIA World Fact BookMinority Rights Group International: North Korea Overview 26 BBC, North Korea ‘executes Christians' , July 2009 27 European Parliament Resolution, 25 May 2012 28 Report of the Special Rapporteur 2012 29 HRW World Report 2012 30 UN Human Rights Council 31 ICNK, North Korea executes 4 defectors sent back from China 8 Human rights in North Korea 2. 10. Labour rights North Korea is one of the few countries that have not joined the International Labour Organisation (ILO). The ruling Korean Workers’ Party controls the only authorised trade union organisation, the Ge neral Federation of Trade Unions of Korea 32 . 2. 11. Minority rightsThere is no specific provision regarding the protection of minorities in North Korean legislation. North Korea is one of the world's most homogeneous countries in linguistic and ethnic terms: almost all 23 million inhabitants are ethnic Koreans whose ancestors have been living there for thousands of years. There is only one, very small Chinese minority of around 50 000. 33 2. 12. Rights of disabled people Although North Korea participated in the 2012 Paralympics in London, there have been reports in the past of disabled newborns being killed and of disabled people being sent to special camps and banned from the capital 34 .A 2003 law stipulates equal access for disabled persons to public services but has not been implemented. 35 2. 13. Abductions In the past, the DPRK has been involved in the abduction of foreign citizens, mainly South Korean and Japanese individuals. More than 500 persons have reportedly been kidn apped. However, no progress has been made with investigations into such abductions or the release of abductees since 2002, when two Japanese nationals were returned to Japan 36 . The DPRK had promised to reopen the investigation into the cases of suspected abductions of Japanese nationals in 2008 37 . . 14. Rule of law And independent judiciary and individual rights do not exist in North Korea, although, according to the country's constitution, courts are independent 32 33 HRW Report 2012 Minority Rights Group International: North Korea Overview 34 ICNK, Disability, the Paralympics, and Ji Seong Ho, 30 August 2012 35 US State Department 2011 Human Rights Reports: Democratic People's Republic of Korea 36 Report of the Special Rapporteur 2012 37 US State Department 2011 Human Rights Reports: Democratic People's Republic of Korea 9Policy Department, Directorate-General for External Policies and judicial proceedings must strictly follow the law. 3. International treaties North Korea is party to four international human rights treaties: ? ? ? ? the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights (ICESCR). 4. Reactions of the international community 4. 1. UNIn March 2012 a UN Human Rights Council adopted a resolution expressing concerns about the ‘ grave, widespread and systematic human rights abuses human rights violations' in North Korea. The resolution deplored the refusal of the government to ‘allow [the Special Rapporteur on human rights] access to the country† 38 . For the first time, North Korea’s allies in the Council (including China and Russia) did not call for a vote, but instead allowed the resolution to pass by consensus 39 . This sort of resolution has, in the past, had little impact on North Korea.When a previou s resolution on human rights condemned the situation in the North, the country's state news agency, the Korean Central News Agency, ran the following response: As already reported, the ‘resolution on human rights' against the DPRK was railroaded through the 60th UN General Assembly due to the pressure and the lobbying operation of the U. S. , Britain, Japan and other hostile forces. The â€Å"resolution† is peppered with lies and fabrications defaming the advantageous Korean-style socialist system centred on the popular masses.That was why it failed to get the approval of many member nations at the general assembly as it was a controversial one which clearly indicated the politicization of the human rights issue, selectivity and double standards 40 . In March 2012, a UN resolution about human rights in North Korea was passed by consensus. 38 39 Report of the Human Rights Council on its nineteenth session, unedited version HRW, UN Human Rights Council: North Korea Condem nation Goes Unopposed , 23 March 2012 40 Korean Central News Agency 2005 10 Human rights in North KoreaDespite the efforts of the UN the Secretary-General and the Special Rapporteur, the DPRK ‘continues to be late in reporting to the treaty bodies or uncooperative with the special procedures' 41 . There have, however, been some signs of cooperation with other UN bodies, including the World Food Programme (WFP), the United Nations Children's Fund, the World Health Organisation and the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. In October 2011, the UN's Emergency Relief Coordinator visited the DPRK to assess the humanitarian situation 42 .In July 2012, a UN mission was granted access to the country to evaluate the damage caused by the floods. 43 In 2013, Special Rapporteur Darusman, is due to report to the Human Rights Council. North Korea will prepare its next periodic review for the same time 44 . There are small signs that the country is beginning to cooperate with some UN bodies. 4. 2. ICNK The International Coalition to Stop Crimes against Humanity in North Korea (ICNK), established in September 2011, is the first international coalition that brings together human rights organisations from around the world 45 .Some 40 organisations have joined the coalition. On April 2012 the ICNK submitted a petition to the special procedures of the United Nation Human Rights Council calling for the UN to help shut down North Korea’s vast gulag system. 46 Delegates of the ICNK met Members of the European Parliament and EU officials in Brussels on 7 June 2012 to persuade them to support the establishment of a UN commission of inquiry into human rights abuses in North Korea. 4. 3. Six-party talksThe ‘six-party talks', which include China, the United States, North and South Korea, Japan and Russia, are aimed at ending North Korea's nuclear program through a negotiating process. Although human rights are not one of the topics of discussion for the talks, the Special Rapporteur believes that progress in these negotiations will assist discussions on other issues, such as the human rights situation 47 . Six-party negotiations have not taken place since December 2008. 41 42Report of the Special Rapporteur 2012 Report of the Special Rapporteur 2012 43 UN to assess North Korea floods as more rain falls 44 Report of the Special Rapporteur 2012 45 The International Coalition to Stop Crimes against Humanity in North Korea (ICNK) 46 ICNK press relase, 3 April 2012 47 Report of the Special Rapporteur 2012 11 Policy Department, Directorate-General for External Policies 4. 4. The EU and its Member States engage in regular political dialogue with North Korea, including through the UN. European Union The EU conducts regular political dialogues with the DPRK.The European Union established diplomatic relations with the DPRK in May 2001, and the majority of EU Member States have diplomatic relations with the DPRK. These contacts provide an opp ortunity to discuss human rights. The EU has also regularly raised the issue of the North Korean human rights situation in discussions at UN bodies. Since 1995, the EU has been involved in various assistance programmes and cooperation activities with the DPRK. Since then, over EUR 366 million in aid has been provided in the form of food aid, medical, water and sanitation assistance and agricultural support 48 .The EU supports, however, the Special Rapporteur's ‘call to rectify flaws in production, distribution and trading systems and to stop the misallocation of resources for military purposes' 49 . A Country Strategy Paper was adopted in March 2002, but its implementation has been suspended. There are currently no plans for a new Country Strategy Paper or for development cooperation, although this remains open for the future 50 . As part of the interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur, the EU has encouraged ‘the DPRK’s new eadership to use its next univer sal periodic review in 2014 as an opportunity to enhance its dialogue with the international community and to provide undisclosed information of its criminal code', including subsequent revisions and addendums 51 . The EU is also involved in a number of assistance programmes. EEAS: North Korea EEAS, HRC19 – Interactive dialogues on Syria, Iran, Burma/Myanmar, North Korea , 12 March 2012 50 EEAS: North Korea 51 EEAS, HRC19 – Interactive dialogues on Syria, Iran, Burma/Myanmar, North Korea 49 48 12 Human rights in North Korea 4. . 1 European Parliament The European Parliament has adopted several resolutions on North Korea, the latest in May 2012 concerning the forced repatriation of North Korean refugees in China 52 . In July 2010, the Parliament called on the EU ‘to appoint an EU special representative on the DPRK to ensure persistent attention and coordination' 53 . Following the death of Kim Jong-il, Parliament's former President Jerzy Buzek issued a statement c alling on the North Korean authorities ‘to make concrete and tangible steps towards improving human rights conditions'.He called ‘on the authorities to allow inspection of all types of detention facilities by independent international experts and to allow UN Special Rapporteurs to visit the country'. He also urged the country ‘to engage constructively in human rights dialogues with the EU' 54 . A public hearing organised by the Parliament's Subcommittee on Human Rights took place in May 2012 with the participation of a former prisoner, the brother of a Japanese abductee and the US Special Envoy Robert King. 52European Parliament resolution of 24 May 2012 on the situation of North Korean refugees 53 European Parliament resolution of 8 July 2010 on North Korea 54 Buzek on the death of Kim Jong-il, 19 December 2011 13 Policy Department, Directorate-General for External Policies 5. Annexes Figure 1: Map of North Korea Source: United Nations Table 1: Data Basic informat ion on North Korea Population Capital Life expectancy 24 589 122 (July 2012 est. ) Pyongyang 66 years for men, 72 years for women (UN) 14