国連人権調査委 北朝鮮に拉致解決迫るテコだ

The Yomiuri Shimbun (Mar. 27, 2013)
Pile intl pressure on North Korea over human rights violations
国連人権調査委　北朝鮮に拉致解決迫るテコだ（3月26日付・読売社説）

The U.N. Human Rights Council recently unanimously adopted a resolution on establishing a panel to investigate human rights abuse in North Korea.
　国連人権理事会で、北朝鮮の人権侵害に関する調査委員会の設立をうたう決議が、全会一致で採択された。

It is important for the international community to seize this momentum and step up pressure on the reclusive country to improve its human rights conditions, which would pave the way for the swift resolution of North Korea's abduction of Japanese.
　これをテコに、北朝鮮の人権状況の改善を求める国際社会の連携を強化し、日本人拉致問題の早期解決につなげることが重要である。

The resolution was jointly submitted by Japan and the European Union, and denounced North Korea's "systematic, widespread and grave violation of human rights." It stipulated the establishment of an inquiry panel of three experts to investigate human rights abuse including the use of torture and labor camps, as well as "enforced disappearances, including in the form of abductions of nationals of other states."
　決議案は日本と欧州連合（ＥＵ）が共同提出した。北朝鮮の「組織的で広範かつ重大な人権侵害」を非難し、強制収容所や拷問、「外国国籍者の拉致を含む強制失踪」などを調べるため、３人の専門家による調査委設立を明記した。

The United Nations has appointed a special rapporteur tasked with investigating North Korea's human rights conditions every year, but establishing the panel will enable a more exhaustive investigation.
　国連は毎年、北朝鮮の人権状況を調査する特別報告者を任命してきたが、調査委発足によって、より充実した調査が可能となる。

The Japanese government should unreservedly support the panel. It must unveil the full picture of the abductions--a crime committed by a state--and bring all the Japanese victims home.
　日本政府は、総力を挙げて協力し、拉致という北朝鮮の国家犯罪の全容解明と、被害者全員の帰国実現を図っていくべきだ。

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High expectations for panel

The United Nations has adopted resolutions condemning North Korea's human rights situation annually in recent years. Votes cast against the resolutions in support of North Korea have decreased over the years, while votes in favor have increased. Since last year, these resolutions have been adopted unanimously.
　北朝鮮の人権状況を非難する国連決議案の採決では、北朝鮮擁護派の反対票が年々減少する一方、賛成票は増え続け、昨年から全会一致での採択が通例となった。

The U.N. Security Council adopted a unanimous resolution on tougher sanctions against North Korea over its nuclear and missile development programs. Pyongyang has continuously thumbed its nose at international condemnation of the programs. Even China has become more willing to implement sanctions on North Korea.
　核・ミサイル問題でも、国際社会の非難を無視する北朝鮮に、国連安全保障理事会は全会一致で制裁を強化した。中国も、制裁実施に積極的な姿勢を見せている。

The North Korean regime of Kim Jong Un must take this mounting international pressure to heart.
　北朝鮮の金正恩政権は、こうした国際的な圧力の高まりを重く受け止めなければならない。

North Korea likely will keep refusing to cooperate with U.N. investigations, and will not open its doors to inquiry panel members.
　北朝鮮は、これまでと同様、国連への協力を拒み、調査委関係者の入国を一切認めないだろう。

However, the panel can collect detailed evidence from victims, defectors, their relatives, governments and agencies outside North Korea. The panel is expected to compile a report on the state of Pyongyang's human rights violations and specific countermeasures. The report will be issued as an official U.N. document a year from now.
　それでも調査委は、北朝鮮以外の国で、被害者や脱北者、家族、政府、諸機関から詳細な証言を集めることができる。それを基に組織的な人権侵害の実態や具体的な対策をまとめ、１年後に国連報告書として公表する予定だ。

The panel report could firmly pursue the North Korean leadership's responsibility for crimes against humanity. The international community must keep squeezing North Korea until it improves its human rights record.
　北朝鮮指導部に「人道に対する罪」の責任を厳しく問うこともできよう。人権状況の改善を迫るために、国際社会は北朝鮮に圧力をかけ続ける必要がある。

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Little time left for families

The Human Rights Council resolution reflects the Japanese government's strenuous efforts on the abduction issue. We praise the government for its work.
　今回の決議は、日本政府の拉致問題に関する積極的な取り組みの一つの成果と、評価できる。

In his policy speech earlier this year, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said his mission will not end until all abducted Japanese stand again on their native soil. Family members of the abductees have grown old, so there is no time to waste. We ask the prime minister to produce tangible results.
　安倍首相は施政方針演説で、拉致被害者の帰国まで「私の使命は終わらない」と述べた。被害者家族の高齢化を考えれば時間は貴重だ。ぜひ結果を出してほしい。

The government should develop a strategic and aggressive diplomatic policy toward North Korea, including the option of resuming intergovernmental talks.
　北朝鮮との政府間協議の再開も含めて、戦略的で積極的な外交の展開が求められる。

Without a comprehensive solution to the abduction, nuclear and missile problems, it will be impossible to normalize relations with North Korea. It is essential for the government to maintain this stance when dealing with Pyongyang.
　拉致、核、ミサイル問題の包括的な解決なくして、日朝国交正常化はあり得ない。政府はこの立場を堅持することが肝要だ。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 26, 2013)
（2013年3月26日01時35分 読売新聞）