UN Historic Visit to China Fails to Acknowledge Human Rights Violations |
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May 30th, 2022
The UN’s first visit to China in 17 years was a wasted opportunity that failed to acknowledge nor condemn human rights violations against Uighur Muslims.
While in the region for six days, UN High Commissioner Michelle Bachelet has not used her time with Chinese officials to inquire about the release of millions of Uighurs arbitrarily detained in mass internment camps. These facilities are now well documented with photo evidence. Bachelet’s presence in China seemed to be just another propaganda moment used by state media to manipulate her statements and circulate her images with high officials to their benefit.
Canadian human rights defenders are disappointed by the lack of concrete measures arising from Bachelet’s week-long visit. “It’s utterly disappointing that the UN didn’t raise key issues during this significant visit. Even the so-called “working group” set up between the UN and China to discuss minority rights is a shallow and shameful response compared to the heinous genocidal atrocity crimes facing Uighurs,” said Taha Ghayyur, Executive Director.
Bachelet further confirmed that her trip was not an investigation, but a chance to “understand the situation in China.” In Bachelet’s press conference after the visit, she also echoed talking points frequently used by the Chinese government. The UN High Commissioner for human rights called the genocidal policies of the Chinese regime “deradicalization” and “anti-terrorism” efforts, repeating their talking points.
Justice For All Canada continues emphasizing the dire need for the UN to carry out an actual investigation, especially in East Turkestan (Xinjiang). It is not accurate nor correct for Bachelet to make conclusions about Chinese official behaviour towards Uighurs without an independent study into the crisis. We remind the world that China has detained more than 1 million Uighur Muslims against their will in a large network of what the state calls "re-education camps".
Hundreds of thousands are also imprisoned. Half a million Uighurs are being forced to pick cotton in Xinjiang according to reports. In addition to interning Uighurs in camps, China has been forcibly mass sterilizing Uighur women to suppress the population, separating children from their families, and attempting to exterminate their religious and cultural traditions.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has also failed to fulfill his 2021 ambitious promise of Canada and its partners to lead an investigation into the clear genocide facing Uighur Muslims. Canadian government officials have also not used their voice at the UN to push for answers on Huseyin Celil, an Uighur Canadian who disappeared after encountering Chinese authorities while visiting family abroad.
The UN’s first visit to China in 17 years was a wasted opportunity that failed to acknowledge nor condemn human rights violations against Uighur Muslims.
While in the region for six days, UN High Commissioner Michelle Bachelet has not used her time with Chinese officials to inquire about the release of millions of Uighurs arbitrarily detained in mass internment camps. These facilities are now well documented with photo evidence. Bachelet’s presence in China seemed to be just another propaganda moment used by state media to manipulate her statements and circulate her images with high officials to their benefit.
Canadian human rights defenders are disappointed by the lack of concrete measures arising from Bachelet’s week-long visit. “It’s utterly disappointing that the UN didn’t raise key issues during this significant visit. Even the so-called “working group” set up between the UN and China to discuss minority rights is a shallow and shameful response compared to the heinous genocidal atrocity crimes facing Uighurs,” said Taha Ghayyur, Executive Director.
Bachelet further confirmed that her trip was not an investigation, but a chance to “understand the situation in China.” In Bachelet’s press conference after the visit, she also echoed talking points frequently used by the Chinese government. The UN High Commissioner for human rights called the genocidal policies of the Chinese regime “deradicalization” and “anti-terrorism” efforts, repeating their talking points.
Justice For All Canada continues emphasizing the dire need for the UN to carry out an actual investigation, especially in East Turkestan (Xinjiang). It is not accurate nor correct for Bachelet to make conclusions about Chinese official behaviour towards Uighurs without an independent study into the crisis. We remind the world that China has detained more than 1 million Uighur Muslims against their will in a large network of what the state calls "re-education camps".
Hundreds of thousands are also imprisoned. Half a million Uighurs are being forced to pick cotton in Xinjiang according to reports. In addition to interning Uighurs in camps, China has been forcibly mass sterilizing Uighur women to suppress the population, separating children from their families, and attempting to exterminate their religious and cultural traditions.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has also failed to fulfill his 2021 ambitious promise of Canada and its partners to lead an investigation into the clear genocide facing Uighur Muslims. Canadian government officials have also not used their voice at the UN to push for answers on Huseyin Celil, an Uighur Canadian who disappeared after encountering Chinese authorities while visiting family abroad.