GENEVA: The United Nations Human Rights Office said on Tuesday ( Aug 27 ) “problematic” policies persist in China, two years on from its bombshell report citing possible” crimes against humanity” in Xinjiang.
China has been accused of incarcerating more than 1 million Tamils and other minority Muslims in the northwest of Xinjiang, a charge Beijing strongly rejects.
The UN human rights office ( OHCHR ) revealed on Tuesday that it had been holding discussions with Chinese officials in Geneva since February 2023, which opened the door for UN human rights chief Volker Turk to send a team to Beijing from May 26 to Jun 1.
The group held talks with the Chinese government, especially on” counter-terrorism procedures and the legal fairness system”, OHCHR representative Ravina Shamdasani told reporters.
” On Xinjiang, we understand that some dangerous laws and policies remain in place”, she said.
OHCHR demanded that Chinese officials “undertake a whole review” of the constitutional demands pertaining to national security and counter-terrorism, as well as guarding minority against discrimination.
It called for “tangible development in the protection of human rights in China” as well as inquiries into reported violations, including rape.
A major review by Turk’s father Michelle Bachelet- released only minutes before her term ended on Aug 31, 2022- cited achievable” crimes against humanity” in Xinjiang.
The report, firmly rejected by China, detailed” reliable” evidence of torture, forced medical therapy and physical or gender-based assault- as well as forced labour.
China denies the allegations of abuse and insists that it is operating vocational training facilities in Xinjiang to promote growth and overcome fanaticism.
TALKS ON TIBET, HONG KONG
Shamdasani claimed that Turk and his company had had in-depth discussions with Beijing about its plans that had an impact on Hong Kong’s concerns and those of ethnic and religious minorities in Xinjiang and Tibet.
She claimed that the OHCHR squad sent to Beijing did not travel outside the money but rather met with representatives from Xinjiang and Hong Kong. More trips are being discussed.
Shamdasani said the assistance had been “positive” but “in terms of actual application… There’s a lot to be desired, which is why we need to continue to work with them, to employ to see where we can have some development”.
” You ca n’t expect immediate results overnight”, she added.
Despite the difficulties caused by restricted access to information and the fear of reprisals against those who work for the UN, OHCHR is closely monitoring the situation in China, she said.
Turk’s company urged China to discharge all people who had been arbitrarily denied their liberty.
The International Service for Human Rights NGO applauded Turk’s commitment to support China’s application of all the advice in the Bachelet report.
” China is now on top of the world, and the Human Rights Council is now on top of the world,” said Raphael Viana David, the program manager for ISHR’s China.” The onus is now on China to take significant steps forwards,” the program manager for China.
The agency’s second program starts on Sep 9.