SINGAPORE’S EXPLANATION OF POSITION BY MS DHIVYA RAJANDRAN, FIRST SECRETARY (POLITICAL AFFAIRS), ON THE RESOLUTION ON “SITUATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN THE DEMOCRATIC PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF KOREA”, THIRD COMMITTEE, UNITED NATIONS, NEW YORK 20 NOVEMBER 2024

Mr Chair, 

1 Today, we are taking action on a series of country-specific human rights resolutions in the Third Committee, starting with document L.34 entitled “Situation of human rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea”. Before the Third Committee starts its work on this, I wish to put on record Singapore’s long-standing position that the Third Committee is not the right platform to discuss country-specific human rights situations. 

2 The Universal Periodic Review (UPR) is a dedicated mechanism of the Human Rights Council (HRC) for each United Nations Member State to undergo a peer review of its human rights record. The UPR process was created precisely for this purpose. There is no good reason for the Third Committee to take over the role of this purpose-built mechanism in the HRC. 

3 It remains an unfortunate reality that country-specific human rights resolutions, which are highly selective in nature, continue to be driven essentially by political considerations.  

4 Our position remains that every UN Member State has the obligation to promote and protect all human rights and all fundamental freedoms. The Third Committee’s work should continue to focus on the examination of human rights questions that affect peoples all around the world. Country-specific resolutions simply do not serve their declared purpose of making a difference to the lives of the people in these countries. 

5 I thank you, Mr Chair. 

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