GENEVA, March 25 (IPPO) — The 44th meeting of the 58th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) convened at the Palais des Nations in Geneva on the morning of March 25 (Geneva time) to review the outcomes of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK). Cui Guowei, Chairman of the International Patriotic Pact Organization (IPPO) and President of the Shaanxi Patriotic Volunteer Association, delivered a video address during the session, appealing to the international community to advance global human rights progress through equal cooperation and opposing the politicization and instrumentalization of human rights issues.

In his remarks, Cui Guowei first acknowledged the DPRK's progress in human rights over the past five years. He noted that under the leadership of the Workers' Party of Korea, the country has significantly improved its people's rights protection by effectively responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, enhancing its human rights legislative system, safeguarding livelihood needs, and promoting education accessibility. The international community and the UNHRC should objectively recognize these positive changes, he stressed.

Addressing current controversies in the human rights domain, he emphasized: "Love our own country, cannot sacrifice the interests of other countries." The Human Rights Council should remain vigilant against forces politicizing and weaponizing human rights issues to interfere in other countries' internal affairs. The independence of national sovereignty and the diversity of development paths must be respected, and the international community should support countries' independent choices of development paths suited to their national conditions with an impartial attitude.

The organization proposed two initiatives: first, appealing to increase understanding and assistance for developing countries like the DPRK to enhance their human rights protection capabilities; second, promoting the signing process of the International Patriotic Pact to advocate for a more harmonious and stable global order through international cooperation.

Cui's speech attracted the attention of participating delegates. Representatives from multiple countries echoed his opposition to the politicization of human rights in subsequent speeches, while engaging in technical discussions on the DPRK's advancements in healthcare and education equity. The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) stated it would compile the review results into a report for final submission to the Council. (Reporter: Li Shihui)