Speech of Head of DPRK Delegation at Intergov't Meeting in Beijing

Pyongyang, December 6 (KCNA) -- The High-Level Intergovernmental Meeting on the Midpoint Review of the Asia and Pacific Decade of Persons with Disabilities was held in Beijing, China from Nov. 27 to Dec. 1. A DPRK delegation led by the ambassador for human rights of the Foreign Ministry took part in the meeting. Referring to the efforts of the DPRK government for protection and promotion of human rights of the persons with disabilities, the head of the delegation said at the meeting: Now in our country an all-people drive is in full swing to successfully carry out the 5-year strategy for national economic development from 2016 to 2020 under the wise leadership of Kim Jong Un, chairman of the State Affairs Commission of the DPRK. The sanctions imposed by the United States and its followers obstruct the enjoyment of human rights of our people in every way and encroach deep into the fields of activities for the protection of the persons with disabilities. We hold that the inhuman sanctions of all sorts that trample down on the humanitarian ideals and the principles of international human rights instruments cannot be justified with anything and they should be put to an end immediately and unconditionally. The meeting discussed the future policy direction, effective ways of performance and others, along with the midpoint review of the Asia and Pacific Decade of Persons with Disabilities, essence of which was to ensure that the disabled can take part in all fields of social activities. And the relevant Beijing Declaration and plan of action were adopted there. -0-