Photo: Salvatore Di Nolfi/Keystone via RFA
In a recent session at the United Nations, China faced a human rights review that has stirred controversy among experts and rights groups. The country promised to closely examine over 400 suggestions from UN members, aiming to address human rights concerns. However, some believe China manipulated the review process to escape thorough examination of its record.
Chen Xu, China‘s ambassador to the UN in Geneva, expressed satisfaction with the feedback from 141 countries during the review, which happens every five years. He described the recommendations as generally “objective and balanced,” as reported by Radio Free Asia (RFA).
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According to RFA, accusations have been made that China‘s diplomats lobbied for favorable comments prior to the session, a tactic that some say undermined the review’s integrity. William Nee from Chinese Human Rights Defenders told RFA that China‘s efforts led to many “softball questions” that diverted attention from pressing human rights issues.
The session saw a mix of criticism and praise, with Western nations highlighting concerns about Tibet and the Uyghurs, while others commended China for legal reforms. Some recommendations appeared to trivialize the situation, like Russia’s suggestion for Xinjiang residents to improve their Mandarin, a move seen by some as ignoring the deeper issues at play.
Sophie Richardson, formerly of Human Rights Watch, pointed out to RFA that China‘s handling of the review process mirrored its approach in 2018, focusing on less significant recommendations and ignoring more critical ones. Despite this, the number of countries and recommendations addressing the situations in Tibet and Xinjiang saw a notable increase, signaling growing international concern.
China has until early February 2024 to respond to the UN‘s recommendations, a response that many are eagerly awaiting. The review has highlighted the complex dynamics of international diplomacy and human rights advocacy, with the global community watching closely to see how China will address these pressing issues.
For more detailed information, you can read the full report on Radio Free Asia‘s website.
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