GENEVA — United Nations rights chief Volker Turk on Tuesday demanded motion from Beijing to handle “grave concerns” over the human rights state of affairs in China’s Xinjiang province.
Turk has been underneath stress from Western nations and rights organizations to take a agency stand on Xinjiang following a bombshell report by his predecessor which cited potential crimes in opposition to humanity within the far-western area.
The UN is worried in regards to the safety of minorities such because the Uyghurs in Xinjiang and Tibetans, Turk mentioned in his speech to the primary UN Human Rights Council session of the yr.
“Regarding China, we have opened up channels of communication with a range of actors to follow up on a variety of human rights issues,” Turk mentioned.
“In the Xinjiang region, my office has documented grave concerns—notably large-scale arbitrary detentions and ongoing family separations—and has made important recommendations that require concrete follow-up.”
He additionally voiced unease over restrictions of civic discourse in China and the far-reaching nationwide safety regulation in Hong Kong imposed in 2020 to stamp out dissent following town’s enormous and infrequently violent pro-democracy demonstrations.
“We also have concerns about the severe restriction of civic space more generally, including the arbitrary detention of human rights defenders and lawyers, and the impact of the National Security Law in Hong Kong.”
Torture allegations ‘credible’
It was Turk’s first set-piece speech to the council in Geneva since taking workplace because the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in October.
Just minutes earlier than her time period ended on August 31, Turk’s predecessor Michelle Bachelet printed a long-awaited report on Xinjiang.
It detailed a string of rights violations in opposition to Uyghurs and different Muslim minorities, highlighting “credible” allegations of widespread torture, arbitrary detention and violations of non secular and reproductive rights.
Beijing vehemently rejects the costs and insists it’s operating vocational coaching facilities within the area to counter extremism.
US-led Western international locations sought in October to carry a debate on the report on the UN’s 47-country rights council.
But intense Chinese lobbying noticed nations vote 19-17 in opposition to discussing the findings, with 11 abstaining.
Amnesty International chief Agnes Callamard mentioned the vote was “unconscionable” and referred to as on Turk to publicly put his weight behind the Xinjiang report.
Turk “will be assessed on the basis of his work and commitment to the Xinjiang people and to his courage in tackling China,” she advised reporters forward of his speech.
US ambassador Michele Taylor advised reporters final month that Washington was intent on persevering with “to shine a spotlight on documented abuses of Uyghurs and members of other ethnic and religious minority groups in Xinjiang.”
“I’m especially grateful to High Commissioner Turk, who has made a commitment to me and others that he will stand behind his office’s report.” — AFP
Source: www.gmanetwork.com
