GENEVA / DPRK DEFECTORS

The UN human rights office, OHCHR, says it is concerned for the fate of nine young North Korean (DPRK) defectors returned to their homeland, where they face possible severe punishment or even execution. The group, believed to all be orphans, were first returned by Laotian police to China this week after crossing that border. CH UNTV

• Categories: News & Features / News Stories / Unifeed
• Video Length: 00:01:56
• Production Date: 31 May 2013
• Asset Language: Original
• Corporate Name: OFFICE OF THE UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS - OHCHR
• Subject Topical: HUMAN RIGHTS
• Geographic Subject: DEMOCRATIC PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF KOREA
• MAMS Id: U130531e

Description

STORY: GENEVA / DPRK DEFECTORS
TRT: 1.56
SOURCE: CH UNTV
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS

DATELINE: 31 MAY 2013, GENEVA

Shotlist

FILE – RECENT, GENEVA

1. External shot, Palais des Nations, Geneva

31 MAY 2013, GENEVA

2. Wide shot, table of journalists, Salle III, Palais des Nations, Geneva.
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Rupert Colville, Spokesperson for the OHCHR:
"We've received credible information that the nine young North Korean defectors who had been arrested in Laos have now been returned to North Korea via China. We're extremely concerned for the protection of this group which includes up to five minors, there are different versions of how old they all are but they're all young, and we believe that they are at risk of severe punishment and ill treatment upon their return. We're dismayed that the governments of Laos and China appear to have abdicated their non refoulement obligations, especially given the vulnerability of this group all of whom are reported to be orphans. We urge the Chinese and Laosian authorities to publically clarify the fate of these young North Koreans as well as the conditions on which they were returned to their home country, and we request the government of DPRK to provide immediate access to the group by independent actors to verify their status and treatment."
4. Cutaway, journalist
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Rupert Colville, Spokesperson for the OHCHR:
"The situation of returnees to North Korea, people who have been forcibly returned to North Korea has been a constant source of concern for many years, and they can get very severely punished, merely for having left the country"
6. Cutaway, journalists
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Rupert Colville, Spokesperson for the OHCHR:
"We make a strong direct call to the authorities in North Korea to allow independent actors in other words, independent actors who are present inside the country probably, there are some, to have access to them and to see that they are alright."
8. Med shot, journalists

Storyline

The U.N. human rights office, OHCHR says it is concerned for the fate of nine young North Korean (DPRK) defectors, returned to their homeland, where they face possible severe punishment or even execution. The group, believed to all be orphans, were first returned by Laotian police to China this week after crossing that border.

U.N. human rights spokesman Rupert Colville told a news briefing in Geneva: “we've received credible information that the nine young North Korean defectors who had been arrested in Laos have now been returned to North Korea via China. We're extremely concerned for the protection of this group which includes upto five minors.”

He said: “the situation of returnees to North Korea, people who have been forcibly returned to North Korea has been a constant source of concern for many years, and they can get very severely punished, merely for having left the country."

In successive resolutions on DPRK, the UN General Assembly has expressed serious concern about the situation of refugees and asylum seekers expelled or returned to DPRK and the sanctions imposed upon those repatriated from abroad.

Separately the UN Human Rights Council has appointed a commission of inquiry to probe and further document “the grave, systematic and widespread violations of human rights and possible crimes against humanity in North Korea.”