Abstract
According to the 2021's Global Health Security (GHS) Index, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) ranked 193rd among 195 nations. Upon the COVID-19 outbreak, the DPRK promoted a national vaccine strategy of “our style.” The Kim Jong Un regime has rejected the corona vaccine aid offered by the international COVAX initiatives claiming that there were zero COVID-19 cases in the DPRK. Furthermore, the DPRK has not allowed the staff of any international humanitarian aid organization to enter the DPRK since 2020 due to COVID-19-related border restrictions. These extreme measures have further exacerbated state-led human rights violations, particularly in connection with the health of its citizens. Based on this analysis, this chapter will provide proposals as to pathways the international community may take to induce positive behavioral changes concerning human rights implementation as they relate to the health of the DPRK's citizenry.
TopGood Governance And The Human Right To Health
Good governance and human rights are closely linked and indeed mutually reinforcing as the core principles of good governance recognize the protection of citizens’ fundamental rights. The United Nation’s Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)’s definition of good governance is, “full respect of human rights, the rule of law, effective participation, multi-actor partnerships, political pluralism, transparent and accountable processes and institutions, an efficient and effective public sector, legitimacy, access to knowledge, information and education, political empowerment of people, equity, sustainability, and attitudes and values that foster responsibility, solidarity, and tolerance” (UNOHCHR, 2000). The role of good governance is vital for the promotion and protection of the citizenry’s human right to health. The concept of health as a human right has been increasingly recognized and widely accepted concept. Plainly, the fate of the citizenry’s health is oftentimes determined, at least in part, by those who govern whether by principles of good governance or not.
Key Terms in this Chapter
Food Security: To guarantee the food security for all, all people should have physical and economic access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food to meet their dietary needs for healthy life. The DPRK citizens have long been suffered by the food insecurity, as more than half of the total population is currently being food insecure.
Humanitarian Operations: Given the particular situations where state authorities are unable to provide adequate services for certain issue areas to meet the needs of its citizens, the humanitarian operations usually takes place to reduce human suffering and its consequences.
COVAX: The COVAX currently is co-leading by the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), GAVI, WHO, UNICEF. The COVAX ensures global collaboration in accelerating not only the development and production but promotes equitable access to COVID-19 related tests, treatments, and vaccines.
Good Governance: The Definitions of good governance may vary. However, the good governance in human rights context is the governance that recognize citizens’ fundamental rights; respects human rights, rule of law, participation, politics of responsibility, transparency and accountability in political and institutional processes, efficient public sector, legitimacy, access to knowledge and information, education, political empowerment of people, equity, sustainability, multiculturalism and values that may foster positive changes for the betterment.
Human Right to Health: The human right to health means that everyone should have access to health services they need, when and where they need them. In other words, nobody should be dying from sicknesses due to lack of access to basic health services they need, regardless of one’s financial status.
Humanitarian Assistance: Aid and assistance that seeks to save lives and alleviate suffering of disaster-affected population. The UN seeks to provide the humanitarian assistance with full respect for the sovereignty of states and in accordance with the basic humanitarian principles of humanity, impartiality, neutrality.
Crimes Against Humanity: When all of inhumane acts including murder, rape, enslavement, torture, enforced disappearances are systematically committed against its citizens which considered as crimes against humanity. The UNSC referred the DPRK and Kim Jong-Un regime to the International Criminal Court (ICC) in charge of crimes against humanity in late 2014.