[JURIST] Torture, absence of the rule of law, violence against women and political persecution are among the laundry list of "egregious" human rights violations occurring in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea [official website], according to a new report from the United Nations. Vitit Muntarbhorn was appointed to the position of Special Rapporteur [UN press release] last year and tapped with investigating allegations of human rights violations in the nation. The 22-page report [PDF text] to the UN General Assembly outlines human rights violation accusations received from citizens, and Muntarbhorn has not been invited by the North Korean government to conduct an in-country visit. Among the critical challenges to be addressed in North Korea, Muntarbhorn lists the following:

the right to food and the right to life; the right to security of the person, humane treatment, non-discrimination and access to justice; the right to freedom of movement, asylum, and protection of persons linked with displacement; the right to the highest attainable standard of health and the right to education; the right to self-determination/political participation, access to information, freedom of expression/belief/opinion, association and religion; and the rights of specific persons/groups, including women and children.