China yesterday faced international scrutiny over domestic policies in places like Hong Kong, Tibet and the western Xinjiang region as the global power receives its latest UN-backed review of its human rights record.
An extraordinarily high number of more than 160 countries — some critics of Beijing, some allies — have registered to take part in a discussion of China’s rights record. That means each would have no longer than 45 seconds to speak.
China, whose delegation was to be led by Chinese Ambassador to the UN Chen Xu (陳旭), could field a delegation that has up to 70 minutes to make its case.
Photo: AFP
The “universal periodic review” involves all UN member states coming up for scrutiny — at times a sharp one — by other countries roughly every five years.
The hourslong discussion aims to offer constructive criticism that underpins a written report that will offer recommendations, not criticism.
“These are all opportunities for countries to offer congratulations, criticisms and recommendations. Only recommendations expressly formulated as such ... are taken into account in the review report,” said Pascal Sim, the top spokesperson for the UN-backed Human Rights Council, which helps organize the reviews.
Several human rights groups had events planned outside China’s review, and the Tibet Advocacy Coalition, the World Uyghur Congress and human rights defenders in Hong Kong were expected to hold a joint news conference after the proceedings.
Another advocacy group aimed to speak out against the forced repatriation from China of women from North Korea who fled the reclusive nation under leader Kim Jong-un.
A pro-Tibet group planned a demonstration outside the UN Geneva compound during yesterday’s discussion.
On the eve of the hearing, Caoilfhionn Gallagher, a lawyer for Jimmy Lai (黎智英), a former Hong Kong publisher on trial for national security violation, said she expected Lai’s case to be brought up.
Western governments were expected to call for his release and for the repeal of Hong Kong’s National Security Law, which was imposed on the territory in 2020 to end massive civil unrest.
Critics say the law has been used to suppress civil society and undermine freedom of speech
“This is an opportunity for the international community to hold China to account for human rights abuse in Hong Kong,” Gallagher said. “What we’ve seen in the last number of years has been dismantling of civil society, criminalization of dissent, criminalization of critics of Beijing and Hong Kong authorities.”
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