This article is from the source 'washpo' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/un-rights-expert-seeks-reminder-for-north-korean-chiefs/2016/02/15/2379eb46-d40c-11e5-a65b-587e721fb231_story.html

The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
UN rights expert seeks reminder for North Korean chiefs UN rights expert seeks reminder for North Korean chiefs
(35 minutes later)
GENEVA — A U.N. human rights expert on North Korea wants supreme leader Kim Jong Un to know that he and other senior officials can be held accountable if they are found responsible for crimes against humanity committed under their leadership.GENEVA — A U.N. human rights expert on North Korea wants supreme leader Kim Jong Un to know that he and other senior officials can be held accountable if they are found responsible for crimes against humanity committed under their leadership.
Special Rapporteur Darzuki Marusman called on the Human Rights Council to “arrange to have an official communication” addressed to North Korean leaders by the council, the U.N. human rights chief or the rapporteur himself. Special Rapporteur Marzuki Darusman called on the Human Rights Council to “arrange to have an official communication” addressed to North Korean leaders by the council, the U.N. human rights chief or the rapporteur himself.
Marusman made the call in a 13-page report made public Monday ahead of a review of North Korea’s rights record by the Geneva-based HRC as part of its session beginning Feb. 29. Darusman made the call in a 13-page report made public Monday ahead of a review of North Korea’s rights record by the Geneva-based HRC as part of its session beginning Feb. 29.
“Under international criminal law, military commanders and civilian superiors are criminally responsible for failing to prevent or repress crimes against humanity committed by persons under their effective authority and control,” the report said.“Under international criminal law, military commanders and civilian superiors are criminally responsible for failing to prevent or repress crimes against humanity committed by persons under their effective authority and control,” the report said.
As such, it said, North Korean leaders from Kim on down could be held responsible for crimes against humanity “even if lower-ranking officials carried out the crimes.” However, the report also noted that “current customary international law” would not allow the prosecution of Kim himself while he is a serving head of state.As such, it said, North Korean leaders from Kim on down could be held responsible for crimes against humanity “even if lower-ranking officials carried out the crimes.” However, the report also noted that “current customary international law” would not allow the prosecution of Kim himself while he is a serving head of state.
Marusman said human rights in North Korea haven’t improved in since a special investigation into its rights record ended two years ago. Darusman said human rights in North Korea haven’t improved in since a special investigation into its rights record ended two years ago.
Marusman was on a U.N. commission of inquiry on North Korea that in 2014 published a groundbreaking report laying out widespread abuses like a harsh system of political prison camps holding up to 120,000 people. The commission urged the Security Council to refer North Korea to the International Criminal Court over its human rights record. Darusman was on a U.N. commission of inquiry on North Korea that in 2014 published a groundbreaking report laying out widespread abuses like a harsh system of political prison camps holding up to 120,000 people. The commission urged the Security Council to refer North Korea to the International Criminal Court over its human rights record.
The new report variously called on the council to properly fund the U.N. human rights office’s operations in Seoul to follow up the commission’s work, and to urge North Korea’s government “to invite the special rapporteur to undertake a visit to the country as soon as possible, without preconditions.”The new report variously called on the council to properly fund the U.N. human rights office’s operations in Seoul to follow up the commission’s work, and to urge North Korea’s government “to invite the special rapporteur to undertake a visit to the country as soon as possible, without preconditions.”
______
This story has corrected the penultimate paragraph to show that the spelling of the U.N. human rights expert’s surname is Marusman, not Darusman. This story has been corrected to show that the spelling of the U.N. human rights expert is Marzuki Darusman, not Darzuki Marusman.
Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.