World News | UN human rights chief says “communication” on China

GENEVA, March 8 (AP) — The new U.N. human rights chief said Tuesday that his office has opened “communication channels” to help follow up on concerns about the rights of China’s ethnic minorities, including Uighur Muslims and Tibetans. . But that fell short of activists’ hopes for a stronger message to Beijing.

High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk, in his much-anticipated speech to human rights advocates, did not elaborate on how his office plans to follow up on an August report by his predecessor, Michelle Bachelet, on China’s western Xinjiang region. critical report. The report cited possible “crimes against humanity” against Uighurs and others in Xinjiang.

Read also | Pakistan: After Lahore, Islami Jamiat-E-Talaba student group attacked Hindu students celebrating Holi in Karachi.

Turk noted that the UN human rights office had “documented serious issues of arbitrary detention and family separation in China” and called for “concrete follow-up action”. He also expressed concern about the impact of Hong Kong’s national security law, which suppresses the pro-democracy movement in Hong Kong.

“Regarding China, we have opened channels of communication with a range of actors to follow up on various human rights issues, including the protection of ethnic minorities such as Tibetans, Uyghurs and other groups,” Turk told the Human Rights Council’s latest update. one session.

Read also | Bangladesh explosion: 16 people were killed and more than 100 injured in a massive explosion at Siddique Bazar in Dhaka.

This is his first annual report to the office since he took office in October. It covers a range of issues such as pressures on women’s rights, discrimination, conflict and climate change in countries ranging from Afghanistan to Zambia.

The rights chief highlighted Russia’s war in Ukraine, ongoing fighting in Syria and instability in Mali and Burkina Faso. He also raised concerns about repression of dissent, free speech and political activists in parts of Asia and the Middle East and North Africa.

Türk further cites reports of “excessive use of force by the police, racial profiling and discriminatory practices – most recently in Australia, France, Ireland and the UK.”

He said he was “deeply concerned about multiple trends” in Russia, such as the closure of independent media and militant organizations’ offices, and the “constant” pro-war messages in state media “feeding stereotypes and inciting hatred and violence”.

Propaganda groups have been paying particular attention to Turck’s views on the human rights situation in China.

Amnesty International secretary-general Agnes Callamard said last month that Turk should “publicly support” Bachelet’s report and include “an important briefing note on Xinjiang to reflect the United Nations’ Gravity of Human Rights Findings” Office.

“This is going to be an important message in many ways,” she told the ACANU press association. “I think the high commissioner will be judged on his willingness and courage to stand up to China and other superpowers.”

Ken Ross, the former director of Human Rights Watch, said Turk “hasn’t made any criticism of China.”

Ross tweeted: “He offers only quiet diplomacy – we have opened the lines of communication” – as if he had any leverage other than the public reporting/condemnation he dropped. (Associated Press)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from a Syndicated News feed, the content body may not have been modified or edited by LatestLY staff)