Dozens of countries call out China at UN over Xinjiang abuse allegations
- A joint statement from 47 nations also calls for the release of a long-delayed report by UN human rights chief Michelle Bachelet
- It voices concerns statement about allegations of forced labour, torture, forced sterilisation and other issues in the treatment of Uygurs and other minorities
Dozens of countries voiced concern Tuesday at alleged abuses in China’s Xinjiang region, and demanded that the UN rights chief publish a long-delayed report on the rights situation there.
“We continue to be gravely concerned about the human rights situation in Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region,” Paul Bekkers, the Dutch ambassador to the UN in Geneva, told the UN Human Rights Council.
Delivering a joint statement on behalf of 47 countries, he pointed to a number of “credible reports” – vehemently rejected by China – indicating that more than 1 million Uygurs and members of other Muslim minorities have been arbitrarily detained in the region.
“There are reports of ongoing widespread surveillance, discrimination against Uygurs and other persons belonging to minorities,” he said.
The joint statement also voiced concern about “reports of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, forced sterilisation, sexual and gender-based violence, forced labour, and forced separation of children from their parents by authorities”.
