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Analysis on “the Reports of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on the Implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women” : Focused on the Health Infrastructure Articles of the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Periodic Reports

  • Korea and Global Affairs
  • Abbr : KGA
  • 2021, 5(4), pp.127-150
  • DOI : 10.22718/kga.2021.5.4.005
  • Publisher : Korea Institute of Politics and Society
  • Research Area : Interdisciplinary Studies > Interdisciplinary Research
  • Received : June 28, 2021
  • Accepted : August 2, 2021
  • Published : August 30, 2021

Lee, Chul soo 1

1신한대학교

Accredited

ABSTRACT

This study aims to analyze and evaluate the health infrastructure-related articles of the DPRK's combined second, third and fourth periodic reports on the implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, which was submitted by North Korea to the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women on May 3, 2016. The main subjects of this analysis are the health infrastructure-related articles in ① North Korea's combined second, third, and fourth periodic reports on the implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, ② list of issues by the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, ③ North Korea's replies to the list of issues, and ④ concluding observations by the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women. This study adopted qualitative research method, which is mainly used for literature research. The results of the analysis are as follows: First, in the combined periodic reports, North Korea partly made quantitative reporting on its health infrastructure, but most of the reporting was qualitative. This reporting behavior is almost the same with North Korea's previous reporting pattern. Second, in the list of issues, the Committee requested data on the reality of women's health in North Korea, which is an essential requirement for monitoring the implementation of the convention. Above all, the Committee's additional request is attributable to North Korea's poor reporting behavior. Third, in terms of the contents of North Korea's replies to the list of issues, the country omitted reporting on some issues and its replies were largely abstract and off the point. This kind of reporting manner of North Korea is a serious error, and it can be said that North Korea consequently lost its last chance to make a case for itself. Fourth, in concluding observations, the Committee raised an issue about the health care reality in North Korea, rather than making comments or advice on North Korea's health infrastructure. In other words, the Committee raised a question over the fundamental issues that should be addressed before the monitoring and evaluation, and these issues are the ones that North Korea is facing now and that should be resolved first for women's health of the country.

Citation status

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