[JURIST] UN Special Rapporteur on North Korea human rights Marzuki Darusman on Tuesday submitted a report [report, PDF] urging that North Korea be referred to the International Criminal Court (ICC) on charges of crimes against humanity. Darusman stated that “[t[he international community must seize this unique opportunity and momentum created by the commission of inquiry to help to make a difference in the lives of the people of [North] Korea, including victims, and to ensure accountability of those responsible for serious violations of human rights, including crimes against humanity.” The report addresses the leadership issues of the Kim Jong Un [BBC profile] administration and accuses the supreme leader and other agencies of human rights violations. Some of the alleged human rights crimes include [WP report] involve torture, starvation and imprisonment for speaking out against the government. Darusman is asking for all UN member states and officials to work to create an initiative to address the violations committed by the North Korea government to end the suffering of its civilians.

The UN has sought to investigate and counter alleged human rights abuses in North Korea in the past. The UN Human Rights Council [official website] in March adopted a resolution [JURIST report] urging the UN Security Council to take action against those responsible for documented crimes against humanity in North Korea. In February then-UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay stated that there can no longer be any excuses for inaction [JURIST report] in North Korea following the release of a UN report. In September the UN Human Rights Commission reported widespread human rights abuses [JURIST report] occurring in the country. Last year Darusman and a group of independent human rights experts announced their support for an international inquiry [JURIST report] into human rights violations in North Korea to bring awareness to the country’s system of political prison camps. Also last year Darusman urged the UNHRC and the General Assembly to investigate human rights violations [JURIST report] in North Korea.