|PIC1|The persecution watchdog, Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW), has welcomed a resolution passed by the European Parliament (EP) condemning the human rights violations in North Korea.

The resolution passed Thursday won the support of all parties including the communist group and is the first Urgency Resolution on North Korea to be adopted by the EP.

It brings attention to the severe repression of religious freedom in the closed communist country and the harsh punishment of those involved in religious activities often with imprisonment, torture and ill-treatment.

The text also highlights particularly the plight of a Christian sentenced to execution, Mr Son Jong Nam, which came to international attention in April.

|TOP|In the resolution the European Parliament calls on the Government of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) to “provide information on the case of Mr Son Jong Nam and to stop his execution”.

The resolution also refers to the UN statement released on the case in which the international body expressed its dismay at the unsatisfactory response to concerns raised over Mr Son’s sentence. The case prompted the first international appeal ever made to prevent a planned execution in North Korea.

The European Parliament called on the North Korean Government in the resolution to abolish the death penalty and “release all people detained or imprisoned for the peaceful exercise of fundamental human rights”.

It went on to deplore “the lack of cooperation by the DPRK with the international human rights institutions” before calling on the government of the DPRK to “ensure that humanitarian organisations, independent human rights monitors, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the DPRK and the UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief have free access to the country”.

|AD|The resolution also urged China not to continue with its strategy of repatriating North Korean escapees to the DPRK “where, regardless of their reasons for leaving, they face harsh treatment, ranging from detention to torture, long prison terms and even executions”.

It also called on South Korea to “assume its responsibility” for North Korean refugees in China and urged the South Korean government to allow such refugees to travel to South Korea.

CSW’s International Advocate, Elizabeth Batha, says: “We greatly welcome this important step by the European Parliament, expressing grave concern over the widespread and gross violations of human rights in North Korea.

“The resolution demonstrates the increased resolve in Europe and the international community to address this situation, considered by many to be the most serious human rights concern in the world today.

“This momentum is set to build until change occurs in North Korea. We hope that the North Korean authorities will take this message to heart and start attacking the problem rather than those who articulate it.”