A member of the Uyghur community holds a placard as she joins a demonstration to call on the British parliament to vote to recognize alleged persecution of China鈥檚 Muslim minority Uyghur people as genocide and crimes against humanity in London on April 22, 2021. (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP)
United Nations, United States 鈥斅燜ifty countries on Monday signed onto a statement read during a UN debate that condemned the 鈥渟evere and systematic鈥� human rights violations in China鈥檚 Xinjiang region.
鈥淲e are gravely concerned about the human rights situation in the People鈥檚 Republic of China, especially the ongoing human rights violations of Uyghurs and other predominantly Muslim minorities in Xinjiang,鈥� said the statement, read out by Canada during a debate of the UN General Assembly Third Committee, which handles human rights.
The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in August published a long-awaited report on Xinjiang, citing possible crimes against humanity against Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities in the far-western region.
Beijing rejects the allegations, claiming to be fighting terrorism and ensuring the region鈥檚 development.
鈥淪uch severe and systematic violations of human rights cannot be justified on the basis of counter-terrorism. In view of the gravity of the OHCHR assessment, we are concerned that China has so far refused to discuss its findings,鈥� the statement added.
The 50 signatories include the United States, Britain, Japan, France, Australia, Israel, Turkey, Guatemala and even Somalia.
They urged Beijing to 鈥渋mplement the recommendations of the OHCHR assessment鈥� which include 鈥渢aking prompt steps to release all individuals arbitrarily deprived of their liberty in Xinjiang, and to urgently clarify the fate and whereabouts of missing family members and facilitate safe contact and reunion.鈥�
In early October, China managed to avoid a discussion of the OHCHR report at the Geneva-based UN Human Rights Council after a majority of the body鈥檚 47 members blocked the beginning of debate.
Human Rights Watch, an international NGO, called Monday for the UN Human Rights Council to 鈥渢ry again鈥� to hold the debate 鈥渁s soon as possible.鈥�
鈥淐learly, diplomatic momentum in favor of holding Beijing accountable for its human rights violations is growing,鈥� said the NGO鈥檚 UN director, Louis Charbonneau.
鈥淗uman Rights Watch is urging council members to attempt again at the earliest possible date to discuss and consider options for establishing a UN-backed mechanism to investigate further the Chinese government鈥檚 responsibility for human rights violations,鈥� he added.