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115th Assembly No.6, Geneva, 18 October 2006 IPU Logo-bottom

LEGISLATORS IN GENEVA CONDEMN
THE DEMOCRATIC PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF KOREA NUCLEAR WEAPONS TEST

Close to 500 legislators from 127 countries meeting today in Geneva at the 115th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) condemned the nuclear weapons test announced by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

They called upon the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to rethink its decision to withdraw from the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), to return to the NPT and the IAEA Safeguards Agreement and to fulfil its obligations to the international community in its endeavours to promote the peaceful utilization of nuclear energy.

Legislators also called upon all States to redouble their efforts to prevent and curb the proliferation of nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction. They appealed to them to confirm and if necessary strengthen their policies not to transfer equipment, materials or technology that could contribute to the proliferation of such weapons and ensure that such policies are consistent with the relevant States' obligations under the NPT. They stated that this should not, however, be interpreted in such a way as to inhibit or restrict the right of States to develop nuclear energy for peaceful purposes in accordance with IAEA rules and regulations. The delegation of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea requested a vote on this resolution. The result showed 897 votes in favour of the resolution, 33 against and 240 abstentions.

Fight against terrorism and energy security

The parliamentarians also adopted three other resolutions. In the text on cooperation between parliaments and the United Nations in promoting world peace, particularly from the perspectives of the fight against terrorism and the achievement of greater energy security, they stated that the fight against terrorism is never a fight against any religion, nationality, civilization or ethnic group.

They condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, whatever its source, and terrorists themselves as common criminals who have no moral standing. They called on governments, parliaments and the international community to address the causes which create an environment that might make people receptive to the rhetoric of terrorists, in particular poverty, ignorance, economic deprivation, injustice and occupation.

Legislators also demanded that all States prevent any banks, organizations or other entities within their territories and jurisdiction from funding or encouraging terrorist activities or lending any kind of support to terrorists or terrorist organizations. Parliaments also have a fundamental responsibility to ensure that human rights and the rule of law are duly kept in focus when pursuing the fight against terrorism.

They also called for a deeper dialogue on international energy that includes consideration of the links between terrorism and energy security, and which must involve parliaments. Last but not least, the legislators called on governments to facilitate safe and affordable access to energy transport networks.

Reducing military expenditure in favour of expenditure on basic human needs

In Geneva, the parliamentarians also adopted a resolution on the role of parliaments in overseeing the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), in particular with regard to the problem of debt and the eradication of poverty and corruption. They urged developed country parliaments to require their governments to honour their commitment to allocate 0.7% of GNI to ODA, as required by the Millennium Declaration and the Monterrey Consensus on Financing for Development.

They urged parliaments to facilitate and monitor the implementation of the internationally agreed goals and objectives on gender equality and the advancement of women, and to influence policy on the protection of the fundamental rights of women.

Developed country parliaments should monitor national aid policies, and donor countries should issue reports on progress towards achieving the seventh and eighth MDGs. As debt has become unsustainable for many developing countries, legislators called for effective procedures for debt forgiveness or viable rescheduling and the adoption of legal instruments to ensure that developing countries do not become over indebted. In that regard, parliaments should support international debt reduction initiatives.

Legislators recommended the adoption of effective anti-corruption laws, in particular to regulate public procurement, and the creation or consolidation of independent anti-corruption committees, working in partnership with the judiciary and civil society.

Parties to a conflict or internal violence should take all necessary steps to forestall disappearances

In a resolution on Missing Persons, the parliamentarians urged States to uphold and protect human rights in order not to become party to enforced disappearances, and to comply with the rules protecting the rights of persons in order to prevent such disappearances. States that have not already signed, ratified or implemented the relevant treaties should do so without delay and parliaments should bring the problem of missing persons to the attention of their respective governments, so that comprehensive national policies can be adopted to resolve the problem of missing persons, enhance assistance to families of victims and forestall further disappearances.

They called for recognition of the families' right to information about the fate of their missing loved ones, and of a legal status for missing persons. Sanctions should be provided under national criminal legislation for violations of international humanitarian norms and international human rights standards applicable to disappearances, and in particular sanctions for enforced disappearances.

Mechanisms should also be established for investigation and prosecution to guarantee the enforcement of national criminal legislation. Members of armed forces and security forces should carry a form of personal identification.

Finally, the right to be registered and detained officially should be recognized and no recourse to pardon, amnesty or similar political measures to terminate the criminal prosecution or punishment of these crimes should be accepted.


Established in 1889 and with its Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, the IPU, the oldest multilateral political organisation, currently brings together 149 affiliated parliaments and seven regional assemblies as associate members. The world organisation of parliaments has an Office in New York, which acts as its Permanent Observer at the United Nations.
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