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PERMANENT MISSION OF THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA GENEVA
The 26th Session of the Human Rights Council <Check against delivery>
Item 3 Clustered ID with the SR on the right to freedom of opinion and expression and the SR on the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association
Geneva, 10 June 2014
Statement of the Republic of Korea
Thank you, Mr. President,
The Republic of Korea would like to express its sincere gratitude to Mr. Frank La RUE, Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression and Mr. Maina Kiai, Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association for their comprehensive reports. The reports provide us with an in-depth analysis and clear overview of the issues of freedom of opinion and expression in electoral contexts as well as legal and practical restrictions on freedom of peaceful assembly and of association against vulnerable groups.
My delegation noted with appreciation the conclusions and recommendations contained in the report submitted by the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression.
We agree that freedom of opinion and expression plays a central role in ensuring that political processes are open, free and fair, thus guaranteeing a functioning and effective democracy. We believe that the Special Rapporteur highlighted well three principles which States should seek in order to ensure an effective application of the promotion and protection of the freedom of opinion and expression during the electoral process.
Indeed, pluralism, transparency and accountability are essential principles that States need to promote in order to guarantee just and fair electoral process. These principles are enshrined in our legal framework and many of the recommendations are already reflected in various laws and regulations. For example, the Public Official Election Act regulates political donations, political advertising as well as dissemination of polling results in order to guarantee a transparent, equal and fair electoral process. We hope that these principles and recommendations can be widely shared by States.
In addition, we would like to draw special attention to his relevant point that States should take measures to prevent speech that constitutes incitement to hatred, hostility, discrimination and violence while providing a structural environment that will enhance freedom of expression. We believe that this kind of speech constitutes a very serious threat not only to democracy but also to peace in that it increases and exacerbates distrust between people. Therefore, we urge every State to take firm measures to prevent such forms of harmful speech.
My delegation also appreciates the report of the Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and association which is focused on discrimination against vulnerable groups.
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We share his concerns that restrictions on and exclusions from the exercise of the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and association against certain groups have significant consequences with regard to reinforcing marginalization of these groups.
It is our firm belief that freedom of assembly and association constitute fundamental human rights which need to be guaranteed without any distinction, regardless of age, gender, disabilities, sexual orientation, religion, or ethnicity. Therefore, it is our hope that States ensure the freedom of assembly and of association as universal human rights.
As a strong supporter of freedom of expression and freedom of peaceful assembly and of association, the Republic of Korea reiterates its commitment to the promotion and protection of these freedoms both on line and offline as well as to the activities of the two Special Rapporteurs.
Thank you, Mr. President. /END/
