Last Update: March 07, 2023, 22:00 IST
Chinese President Xi Jinping. (File photo/Reuters)
The United Nations is concerned about the safety of minorities such as Uyghurs in Xinjiang and Tibetans, Turki said in his speech at the first UN Human Rights Council session of the year
UN human rights chief Volker Turk on Tuesday called for action from Beijing to address “serious concerns” over the human rights situation in China’s Xinjiang province.
The Turk was under pressure from Western countries and rights organizations to take a tougher stand on Xinjiang after his predecessor delivered a blistering report that cited possible crimes against humanity in the far-western region.
In his speech at the first UN Human Rights Council session of the year, Turki said the UN is concerned about the safety of minorities such as Uyghurs in Xinjiang and Tibetans.
Turk said, “With regard to China, we have opened channels of communication with a number of actors to follow up on a variety of human rights issues.”
“In the Xinjiang region, my office has documented serious concerns – particularly the widespread arbitrary detention and ongoing family separations – and made important recommendations that require concerted follow-up.”
They voiced restrictions on civil discourse in China and far-reaching national security legislation in Hong Kong in 2020 to stamp out dissent following the city’s massive and often violent pro-democracy demonstrations.
“We are also concerned about the severe restriction of civil space in general, 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 Turki’s first set-piece speech to the council in Geneva since taking over as the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in October.
Just minutes before her term ends on August 31, Turki’s predecessor, Michelle Bachelet, published a long-awaited report on Xinjiang.
It detailed a string of rights violations against Uighurs and other Muslim minorities, highlighting “credible” allegations of widespread torture, arbitrary detention and violations of religious and reproductive rights.
Beijing vehemently rejects the allegations and insists it is running vocational training centers in the region to counter the insurgency.
Western countries, led by the US, demanded the report be debated in the UN’s 47-nation Rights Council in October.
But intense Chinese lobbying saw the nations vote 19-17 against discussing the findings, with 11 abstaining.
Agnes Callamard, head of Amnesty International, said the vote was “unconscionable” and called on Turks to publicly weigh in on the Xinjiang report.
“Turk will be judged on the basis of his work and commitment to the people of Xinjiang and his courage in dealing with China,” he told reporters ahead of his speech.
US ambassador Michelle Taylor told reporters last month that Washington intended to continue “to shine a light on the documented abuses of Uighurs and members of other ethnic and religious minority groups in Xinjiang”.
“I am particularly grateful to High Commissioner Turki, who has promised me and others that he will stand behind his office’s report.”
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(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed)