GENEVA: UN rights chief Volker Turk called on Beijing on Tuesday to address “grave concerns” about human rights in Xinjiang.
After his predecessor’s blockbuster report alleged crimes against humanity in Xinjiang, Turk has been under pressure from Western nations and rights groups to take a stand.
Turk noted in his major speech to the UN Human Rights Council that the UN is concerned about protecting minorities like Uyghurs in Xinjiang and Tibetans.
“We have developed channels of communication with a number of players to follow up on a variety of human rights issues in China,” Turk said.
“In Xinjiang, my office has documented significant concerns—notably large-scale arbitrary detentions and continued family separations—and issued important recommendations that require real follow-up.”
Moreover, Turk expressed concern over Hong Kong’s 2020 national security bill. That bill aimed to stifle dissent after massive and deadly pro-democracy protests.
“We also have worries about the severe restriction of civic space more generally. Including the incarceration of human rights defenders and lawyers and the impact of the NSL in Hong Kong,” he said.
Torture allegations ‘credible’
Turk made his first major council statement in Geneva since becoming UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in October.
Michelle Bachelet released a long-awaited Xinjiang report 13 minutes before her term ended on August 31.
It alleged “credible” torture, arbitrary detention, and religious and reproductive rights violations against Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities.
Beijing denies the allegations and claims it runs vocational training centres in the region to combat extremism.
After Turk’s address, Chinese envoy Chen Xu stated Xinjiang’s human rights were “fully protected” by Beijing’s anti-terrorism and radicalization measures.
“Xinjiang and Tibet enjoy continuous economic progress, harmonious and stable society, constantly better livelihood, prosperous culture, peaceful co-existence of all religions and exceptional human rights development,” he stated.
The National Security Law “better protects all lawful rights and freedoms of Hong Kong people”.
Western nations, backed by the US, sought a Human Rights Council debate on the Xinjiang report last October.
Afterwards, The 47 council members voted 19-17 against debating the findings, with 11 abstaining, after significant Chinese lobbying.
US ambassador Michele Taylor asked the council to “take measures to address the ongoing violation of human rights in Xinjiang”.
British envoy Simon Manley urged China “to cease rejecting the facts and engage genuinely and constructively” with Turk’s recommendations.
Hilary Power, Geneva director of Human Rights Watch, encouraged the council to probe “rights breaches in China, especially in Xinjiang,”. He cited “hundreds of other NGOs from various regions and multiple UN experts.”
