In the final session of the 2019 International Conference on Humanitarian Cooperation and Peaceful Development on the Korean Peninsula the rapporteurs for the conference Jin Kim and June Kwon summarized the discussions of the four plenary sessions before developing a joint statement with all of those that had participated in the conference.
There were three main points emphasized in the joint statement. Firstly, a call to the UN 1718 Committee to allow the revitalization of humanitarian cooperative projects in North Korea that have appropriate monitoring mechanisms. Secondly, an insistence that humanitarian assistance should never be used as a political tool and that humanitarian support is pivotal for the protection of vulnerable social groups in the DPRK. Thirdly, an entreaty that actors from around the world should increase efforts at joint coordination and cooperation.
On November 1st and 2nd the Korean Sharing Movement, Gyeonggi Province, and the National Committee on North Korea jointly hosted the 2019 International Conference on Humanitarian Cooperation and Peaceful Development on the Korean Peninsula in New York City. The Conference has been hosted annually by the KSM and Gyeonggi Province, since 2009 and at this 11th gathering over 70 multilateral, bilateral, governmental and non-governmental organizations participated.
The participants agreed that the past 20 years of humanitarian cooperation in the DPRK has served a significant role in saving lives and improving the quality of life of North Korean citizens.
However, the participants expressed their grave concern that the ongoing sanctions directed at the DPRK are hindering humanitarian organizations from operating effectively in the country, and thereby worsening the humanitarian situation. The participants identified infectious diseases including tuberculosis, and chronic malnutrition in children as areas of particular concern.
The South Korean local government, Gyeonggi Province, highlighted the recent case of African Swine Fever as an example where the absence of a humanitarian cooperation process between North and South Korea has negatively affected those living in South Korea as well. This lack of humanitarian cooperation could also lead to the spread of infectious diseases such as TB, avian influenza, and malaria across the Peninsula.
The sanctions exemption process has been improved with the introduction of Implementation Assistance Notice no. 7 in the summer of 2018. Nevertheless, international agencies have been constrained in their activities due to de-risking from the financial and shipping sectors.
Despite the improvements to the exemption application process, to date no South Korean NGO has been granted a humanitarian exemption from the 1718 Committee.
Humanitarian cooperation has a significant role in improving the humanitarian situation in North Korea. It also enhances mutual understanding between the international community and the DPRK, and between South and North Korea. While acknowledging the aforementioned, the participants appeal to the UN and concerned governments as follows:
Firstly, the UN 1718 Sanctions Committee should ensure that appropriately monitored humanitarian assistance to North Korea is not restricted, and actively facilitate such measures. Therefore, the international community should proactively make concerted efforts to ensure the unimpeded flow of humanitarian assistance.
Secondly, humanitarian aid should in no instance be utilized as a political tool. Hence, we call on the concerned governments, including the United States of America, the Republic of Korea, and the Democratic Peoples’ Republic of Korea to ensure that humanitarian assistance is able to reach vulnerable populations, regardless of political considerations. All concerned governments should not impede non-governmental humanitarian organizations from providing such assistance.
Thirdly, resident, non-resident, international, and South Korean humanitarian organizations who implement projects in the DPRK should strive to respect humanitarian principles and make efforts to strengthen their coordination and cooperation.
Nov. 2nd, 2019.
All the Participants
