United Nations Responses to the Uyghur Crisis

UHRP United Nations Tracker

The UHRP United Nations Tracker compiles information from the United Nations and its various agencies, experts, committees, and other bodies in relation to human rights issues affecting Uyghurs in the Uyghur region of China, as well as joint statements by UN member states in New York and Geneva.

UN Treaty Bodies

The UN Treaty Bodies are committees of independent experts that monitor implementation of the core international human rights treaties. The following list includes recommendations made by UN Treaty Bodies relevant to Uyghurs, following periodic reviews.

May 31, 2023: Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) Concluding Observations on China's ninth periodic report (see UHRP's submission for consideration by the Committee, and watch the review).

Relevant recommendations

Ensure the effective implementation of the prohibition of discrimination against all women facing discrimination, including women with disabilities, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and intersex, Tibetan and Uyghur women and women from the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, through appropriate enforcement mechanisms and sanctions.
Remove intersecting forms of discrimination and barriers faced by women and girls, in particular women with disabilities, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and intersex, Tibetan and Uyghur women, in accessing justice, including by sensitizing the judiciary on their equal rights and providing free legal aid to women without sufficient means and independent and professional translation and interpretation services, when needed.
Ensure that girls and women belonging to the ethnic minorities have access to instruction in their mother tongues, such as Kazakh, Tibetan and Uyghur, and reverse the closure of schools providing instruction in minority languages.
Prohibit coercive employment measures, including forced labour of Uyghur women, immediately discontinue any such measures, release all women subject to forced labour, and prosecute and punish perpetrators, including State officials, of gender-based violence, such as sexual violence and harassment, against women in employment, notably in vocational training and education centres for Uyghur women.
End, prevent and criminalize the use of coercive measures, such as forced abortions, forced sterilizations, other forms of gender-based sexual violence and other cruel, inhuman or degrading family planning practices that are allegedly inflicted on women in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region and in predominantly Uyghur-populated areas, and ensure that any cases of such practices are effectively investigated without delay and that those responsible are prosecuted and adequately punished and that victims receive adequate compensation.
Halt non-voluntary “labour transfer” and “vocational training” programmes in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China, and respect, preserve and promote the cultural identity of women belonging to ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities, including Tibetan and Uyghur women.
Ensure the right of all women, including those belonging to ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities, such as Uyghur women, freely to choose a spouse and to enter into marriage only with their free and full consent; ensure that all cases of forced interethnic marriages of Uyghur women are effectively investigated and that those responsible, including public officials, are prosecuted and adequately punished; and raise the awareness of the general public and provide mandatory training to law enforcement officers and other public officials about the criminal nature of forced marriages.
Eliminate intersecting forms of discrimination against women belonging to ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities, such as Tibetan and Uyghur women, and ensure that they have adequate access to education, employment and health care and are proportionately represented in decisionmaking positions in political and public life.

March 3, 2023: Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR) Concluding Observations on China's third periodic report (see UHRP's submission for consideration by the Committee, and watch the review).

Relevant recommendations

Bring to an end the violations of human rights in the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region. The Committee also urges the State party, in line with decision 1 adopted by the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination at its 108th session, under the early warning and urgent action procedure, to effectively implement the concluding observations of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination and the Committee against Torture, as well as the recommendations included in paragraph 151 of the OHCHR assessment of human rights concerns in the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region.
Effectively end arbitrary detention, while implementing both the ILO Forced Labour Convention, 1930 (No. 29), and the ILO Abolition of Forced Labour Convention, 1957 (No. 105), and to give United Nations independent human rights experts unhindered access to all vocational education and training centres.
Ensure that labour inspection mechanisms and independent audit companies have sufficient legal grounds and adequate resources to investigate allegations of violations of the labour law and to take effective action against those employers and enterprises found to be in breach of the law, including in the Tibet Autonomous Region and in the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region.
Ensure that surveillance, both online and
offline, complies with strict tests of legality, necessity and proportionality, including for
matters of national security, and does not infringe on the fundamental rights and
freedoms of individuals, and immediately cease imposed co-habitation.
Take immediate action to end, prevent and criminalize effectively the use of coercive measures, such as forced abortions, sexual violence, forced sterilizations and torture, in the implementation of family planning policies.
Investigate effectively, without further delay, all reported cases of forced abortion and forced sterilization and to hold accountable those responsible for such acts. and take all necessary measures to ensure that victims receive adequate compensation.
Take all necessary measures to ensure the full and unrestricted enjoyment by peoples and minorities of their right to enjoy fully their own cultural identity and take part in cultural life, to ensure the use and practice of their language and culture.
Ensure that Mandarin is not the only language of instruction allowed for ethnic minorities and peoples.
Take adequate measures to protect cultural diversity and the cultural practices and heritage of religious minorities, including the religious practices of Tibetans, Uighurs, Kazakhs, Hui and Mongols, including by protecting and restoring religious sites.

September 9, 2022: Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) Concluding Observations on China's combined fourteenth to seventeenth periodic reports.

Relevant recommendations

Halt the practice of detaining individuals who have not been lawfully charged, tried and convicted for a criminal offence in any extralegal detention facility.
Immediately release individuals currently detained under these circumstances, and allow those wrongfully held to seek redress.
Undertake prompt, thorough and impartial investigations into all allegations of racial, ethnic and ethno-religious profiling, holding those responsible accountable and providing effective remedies, including compensation and guarantees of non-repetition.
Implement mandatory collection and analysis of data on the ethnicity of all individuals stopped by law enforcement, the reasons for and outcome of those stops, report publicly on the information collected at regular intervals and include it in its follow-up report.
Ensure that all collection, retention and use of biometric data is regulated in law and in practice, is narrow in scope, transparent, necessary and proportionate to meeting a legitimate security goal, and is not based on any distinction, exclusion, restriction or preference based on race, colour, descent or national or ethnic origin.
Eliminate travel restrictions that disproportionately affect members of ethnic minorities.
Disclose the current location and status of Uighur students, refugees and asylum seekers who returned to China pursuant to a demand made by the State party in the past five years.
Provide the number of persons held against their will in all extralegal detention facilities in the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region in the past five years, together with the duration of their detention, the grounds for detention, the humanitarian conditions in the centres, the content of any training or political curriculum and activities, the rights that detainees have to challenge the illegality of their detention or appeal the detention, and any measures taken to ensure that their families are promptly notified of their detention.
Strengthen measures to prevent, detect and where appropriate sanction racial discrimination in public and private sector labour conditions, including recruitment and promotion, and ensure that any company or institution placing discriminatory job advertisements is held legally accountable.

September 19, 2018: Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) Concluding Observations on China's combined second and third periodic reports.

Relevant recommendations

December 3, 2015: Committee Against Torture (CAT) Concluding Observations on China's fifth periodic report (see UHRP's submission for consideration by the Committee).

Relevant recommendations

Take all necessary measures to ensure the full and unrestricted enjoyment by minorities, including Tibetans, Uighurs and Inner Mongolians, of their right to enjoy fully their own cultural identity and take part in cultural life, and to ensure the use and practice of their language and culture. The Committee also recommends that the State party take adequate measures to protect cultural diversity and promote awareness of the cultural heritage of ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities.

May 8, 2014: Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR) Concluding Observations on China's second periodic report.

Relevant recommendations

Take all necessary measures to ensure the full and unrestricted enjoyment by minorities, including Tibetans, Uighurs and Inner Mongolians, of their right to enjoy fully their own cultural identity and take part in cultural life, and to ensure the use and practice of their language and culture. The Committee also recommends that the State party take adequate measures to protect cultural diversity and promote awareness of the cultural heritage of ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities.

November 7, 2014: Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) Concluding Observations on China's combined seventh and eighth periodic reports.

Relevant recommendations

Ensure access to education by ethnic and religious minority women and girls by increasing the financial and other resources afforded to them, in particular to Tibetans, Uighurs and the so-called girls left behind, and by increasing the provision of necessary services including mother tongue education targeting non-Chinese-speaking students.
Consider using temporary special measures, in accordance with article 4 (1) of the Convention and the Committee’s general recommendation No. 25, as a necessary strategy to accelerate the achievement of the substantive equality of women and men, in particular to enhance the rights of ethnic and religious minority women and women with disabilities, with regard to all aspects of the Convention.
Ensure the implementation of the National Human Rights Action Plan (2012-2015) through the adoption of specific measures to promote and facilitate the participation of ethnic and religious minority women.
Vigorously pursue efforts aimed at eliminating the multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination experienced by ethnic and religious minority women and women with disabilities, which affect their access to health, education, employment and participation in public life and the enjoyment of their cultural identity and practices.

September 15, 2009: Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) Concluding Observations on China's tenth to thirteenth periodic reports.

Relevant recommendations

Ensure that those detained in connection with [July 5, 2009] are guaranteed humane treatment while in custody and fair trial standards according to international law, including access to a lawyer of their choice, presumption of innocence, and handing down proportionate sentences on those found guilty. The Committee further recommends that the State party carefully consider the root causes of such events, including inter-ethnic violence, and the reasons why the situation escalated.

UN Experts and Working Groups

The UN special procedures mandate holders (Special Rapporteurs, Independent Experts or Working Groups) are experts or groups of experts who examine, advise and publicly report on human rights issues and situations.

September 20, 2023: UN experts focusing on minority issues, cultural rights, and education issued a Joint Allegation Letter to China regarding regarding widespread separation of children from their parents affecting Uyghurs. The experts expressed "deep concern about what is reported as a policy of forced assimilation of the Uyghur minority, through a high number of centralized boarding institutions particularly targeting the Uyghur minority children, which appears to be in breach of a number of international human rights standards."

December 19, 2022: 15 UN mandate holders issued a Joint Allegation Letter following up on eight Special Procedures communications to the Chinese Government since 2017 about human rights about alleged widespread and grave violations of the rights of Uyghurs. The letter provides benchmarks to "facilitate substantive reform" of China's international law obligations in the Uyghur region.

June 10, 2021: Nine UN mandate holders issued a Joint Allegation Letter on the alleged forced organ harvesting targeting ethnic, religious or linguistic minorities such as Falun Gong practitioners, Uyghurs, Tibetans, Muslims and Christians in detention. The Chinese government responded on August 9, 2021.

April 28, 2021: Eight UN mandate holders issued a Joint Allegation Letter regarding the arbitrary detention of seventeen human rights defenders sentenced or under investigation or trial for the alleged commission of crimes against the State, that carry prison sentences of 10 years or more, including Ilham Tohti.

March–April 2021: Seven UN mandate holders issued a Joint Allegation letter to China as well as 156 Chinese and international companies, and their governments, regarding forced labour, arbitrary detention, and trafficking in persons in the Uyghur region and elsewhere in China, as well as the related lack of accountability and access to effective remedy for victims.

February 10, 2021: Ten UN mandate holders issued a Joint Allegation Letter regarding the arbitrary detention and ill-treatment, including gender-based violence against Gulbakhar Jalilova, a Uyghur businesswoman.

July 7, 2020: Six UN mandate holders issued a Joint Allegation Letter on the use of surveillance to monitor, track, and detain persons who belong to "Muslim minorities" within China. The Chinese government responded on November 19, 2020.

November 1, 2019: 12 UN mandate holders issued a Joint Other Letter on the effect and application of China's Counter-Terrorism Law and its Regional Implementing Measures, recommending that the law be reviewed in order to bring them in line with international human rights standards as previously requested.

October 2, 2019: Three UN mandate holders issued an Urgent Action on the case of Tashpolat Tiyip, a Uyghur researcher and scholar, who was sentenced to death with a two years reprieve, calling for any order of execution to be stayed, and this his trial and sentence are independently reviewed taking into account his right to fair trial and due process of law.

November 12, 2018: Six UN mandate holders issued a Joint Other Letter regarding the revision of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region "Regulation on De-extremification," and expressed concerns that the Regulation is incompatible with China’s obligations under international human rights law, and called on the government to repeal the Regulation.

July 11, 2018: Six mandates UN mandate holders issued a letter on the alleged reprisals faced by Dolkun Isa and the Society for Threatened Peoples. The Chinese government responded on July 31, 2018.

January 12, 2018: Four UN mandate holders issued a Joint Allegation letter concerning a directive on bilingual education issued on June 28, 2017 by Hotan’s Education Department banning the teaching of the Uyghur language at all education levels.

July 4, 2012: Four UN mandate holders issued a Joint Urgent Action regarding the then-imminent deportation of Kurbanjan Mutalip from the Netherlands to China.

Working Group on Arbitrary Detention Opinions

May 9, 2024: Opinion 2/2024 concerning Alavedi Buvacir, Hudavedi Bumeyrem, Abudukelimu Alimu, Abuduli Aibibu and Bahaguli Aibibu detained in 2019 (Alavedi Buvacir and Hudavedi Bumeyre); on August 28, 2017 (Abudukelimu Alimu) and in October 2017 (Abuduli Aibibu and Bahaguli Aibibu).

Determination and Recommendations

The WGAD determined the detention of Alavedi Buvacir, Hudavedi Bumeyrem, Abudukelimu Alimu, Abuduli Aibibu and Bahaguli Aibibu to be arbitrary under categories I, III and V. The WGAD urged China to:

Release Ms. Buvacir, Ms. Bumeyrem, Mr. Alimu, Mr. Aibibu and Ms. Aibibu immediately and accord them an enforceable right to compensation and other reparations, in accordance with international law.
Ensure a full and independent investigation of the circumstances surrounding their arbitrary deprivation of liberty and to take appropriate measures against those responsible for the violation of their rights.

May 8, 2024: Opinion 4/2024 concerning Abdülcabbar Celil Karluk, Suliya Tuerxun, Ailijiang Mamuti and Yasin Abdurrahman detained around May 2017 (Abdülcabbar Celil Karluk); in May 2018 (Suliya Tuerxun); in May 2017 (Ailijiang Mamuti) and in July 2017 (Yasin Abdurrahman).

Determination and Recommendations

The WGAD determined the detention of Abdülcabbar Celil Karluk, Suliya Tuerxun, Ailijiang Mamuti and Yasin Abdurrahman to be arbitrary under categories I, III and V. The WGAD urged China to:

Release Ms. Tuerxun, Mr. Mamuti and Mr. Abdurrahman immediately and to accord them and Mr. Karluk an enforceable right to compensation and other reparations, in accordance with international law.
Ensure a full and independent investigation of the circumstances surrounding their arbitrary deprivation of liberty and to take appropriate measures against those responsible for the violation of their rights.

December 8, 2023: Opinion 77/2023 concerning Halemaimaiti Yiliyasi, Abudureheman Kuerwanjiang, Mevlude Hilal and Paliden Yasheng detained on 01/03/2017 (Halemaimaiti Yiliyasi); 00/03/2017 (Abudureheman Kuerwanjiang); 12/07/2019 (Mevlude Hilal), and 00/04/2017 (Paliden Yasheng).

Determination and Recommendations

The WGAD determined the detention of Halemaimaiti Yiliyasi, Abudureheman Kuerwanjiang, Mevlude Hilal and Paliden Yasheng to be arbitrary under categories I, III and V. The WGAD urged China to:

Accept a country visit by the WGAD
Release Yiliyasi, Kuerwanjiang, Hilal and Yasheng immediately, quash their convictions and accord them an enforceable right to compensation and other reparations, in accordance with international law.
Ensure a full and independent investigation of the circumstances surrounding the arbitrary deprivation of liberty of Yiliyasi, Kuerwanjiang, Hilal and Yasheng and to take appropriate measures against those responsible for the violation of their rights.

September 27, 2023: Opinion 38/2023 concerning Maimaiti Abulaiti detained on 20/01/2018.

Determination and Recommendations

The WGAD determined the detention of Maimaiti Abulaiti to be arbitrary under categories I, II, III and V. The WGAD urged China to:

Accept a country visit by the WGAD
Release Abulaiti immediately and accord him an enforceable right to compensation and other reparations, in accordance with international law.
Ensure a full and independent investigation of the circumstances surrounding the arbitrary deprivation of liberty of Abulaiti and to take appropriate measures against those responsible for the violation of his rights.

May 1, 2023: Opinion 6/2023 concerning Naghmat Hamit, Tajinisa Yimin and Dilixiati Wulibaiyi, detained in 2017 (Naghmat Hamit); 2021 (Tajinisa Yimin), and on 7/03/2018 (Dilixiati Wulibaiyi).

Determination and Recommendations

The WGAD determined the detention of Naghmat Hamit, Tajinisa Yimin and Dilixiati Wulibaiyi to be arbitrary under categories I, III and V. The WGAD urged China to:

Accept a country visit by the WGAD
Release Hamit, Yimin and Wulibaiyi immediately and accord them an enforceable right to compensation and other reparations, in accordance with international law.
Ensure a full and independent investigation of the circumstances surrounding the arbitrary deprivation of liberty of Hamit, Yimin and Wulibaiyi and to take appropriate measures against those responsible for the violation of their rights.

September 29, 2022: Opinion 64/2022 concerning Yalqun Rozi, detained on 6/10/2016.

Determination and Recommendations

The WGAD determined the detention of Qurban Mamut, Ekpar Asat and Gulshan Abbas to be arbitrary under categories I, III and V. The WGAD urged China to:

Accept a country visit by the WGAD
Release Mamut, Asat and Abbas immediately and accord them an enforceable right to compensation and other reparations, in accordance with international law.
Ensure a full and independent investigation of the circumstances surrounding the arbitrary deprivation of liberty of Mamut, Asat and Abbas and to take appropriate measures against those responsible for the violation of their rights.
Accede to the ICCPR.

March 20, 2023: Opinion 88/2022 concerning Qurban Mamut, Ekpar Asat and Gulshan Abbas, detained possibly in November, December or possibly as early as March or April 2017 (Qurban Mamut; 7/04/2016 (Ekpar Asat), and 10/09/2018 (Gulshan Abbas).

Determination and Recommendations

The WGAD determined the detention of Yalqun Rozi to be arbitrary under categories I, II, III and V. The WGAD urged China to:

Adhere to the Principles on Effective Interviewing for Investigations and Information Gathering (the Méndez Principles).
Accept a country visit by the WGAD.
Release Rozi immediately and accord him an enforceable right to compensation and other reparations, in accordance with international law.
Ensure a full and independent investigation of the circumstances surrounding the arbitrary deprivation of liberty of Rozi and to take appropriate measures against those responsible for the violation of his rights.

May 23, 2022: Opinion 6/2022 concerning Abdurashid Tohti, Tajigul Qadir, Ametjan Abdurashid and Mohamed Ali Abdurashid, detained on 06/03/2016 (Ametjan Abdurashid), and 00/06/2017 (Abdurashid Tohti, Tajigul Qadir, and Mohamed Ali Abdurashid).

Determination and Recommendations

The WGAD determined the detention of Abdurashid Tohti, Tajigul Qadir, Ametjan Abdurashid and Mohamed Ali Abdurashid to be arbitrary under categories I, III and V. The WGAD urged China to:

Release Tohti, Qadir, Ametjan Abdurashid and Mohamed Abdurashid immediately and accord them an enforceable right to compensation and other reparations, in accordance with international law.
Ensure a full and independent investigation of the circumstances surrounding the arbitrary deprivation of liberty of Tohti, Qadir, Ametjan Abdurashid and Mohamed Abdurashid and to take appropriate measures against those responsible for the violation of their rights.

Special Procedures' Press Releases

June 19, 2024: China: Authorities must provide information on imprisoned Uyghur doctor

September 26, 2023: China: Xinjiang’s forced separations and language policies for Uyghur children carry risk of forced assimilation, say UN experts

September 15, 2022: UN expert says contemporary forms of slavery affecting minority communities, urges action to end discrimination, including against Uyghur and other minorities in China exposed to forced labour

September 7, 2022: Xinjiang report: China must address grave human rights violations and the world must not turn a blind eye, say UN experts

Urges the Human Rights Council to "hold a special session to address human rights issues more broadly in China precisely because key issues of concern, especially arbitrary detention, enforced disappearances, restrictions to movement, privacy, freedom of religion, freedom of expression are occurring in other parts of the country premised on grounds of national security."
Urges the Human Rights Council to "urgently consider the creation of a Special Procedures mandate, or a panel of experts to closely monitor, analyse and report annually on the human rights situation in China," for the General Assembly or Secretary-General to consider the creation of a special envoy, and for UN Member States and UN agencies and business enterprises to "demand that China fulfils its human rights obligations, including during their ongoing dialogues with the Government."

April 1, 2022: Saudi Arabia: UN experts say Uyghurs must not be extradited to China, urge proper risk assessment

Requests Saudi Arabia to "immediately allow the two men to contact their families and ascertain their fate and whereabouts," and "undertake an individual, impartial and independent assessment of risks, and provide prompt and transparent access to safeguards, including the ability to challenge the deportation decision."

March 15, 2022: UN expert calls on States to ensure accountability, transparency and access to sites of secret detention, urging China to: Immediate close the mass detention facilities in Xinjiang

Calls for "the immediate closure of "the mass detention facilities in Xinjiang, China."

December 16, 2021: Morocco: UN experts say extradition of Uyghur asylum seeker to China violates principle of non-refoulement

March 29, 2021: China: UN experts deeply concerned by alleged detention, forced labour of Uyghurs

Urges China to immediately cease any such measures that are not fully compliant with international law, norms and standards relating to human rights, including the rights of minorities."

December 26, 2019: China urged to disclose location of Uyghur academic Tashpolat Tiyip

OHCHR Assessment

August 31, 2022: The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) released a comprehensive assessment of the human rights situation in the Uyghur region with detailed recommendations.

Recommendations

OHCHR recommends to the Government of China that it:

(i) Takes prompt steps to release all individuals arbitrarily deprived of their liberty in XUAR, whether in VETCs, prisons or other detention facilities;
(ii) Urgently clarifies the whereabouts of individuals whose families have been seeking information about their loved ones in XUAR, including by providing details of their exact locations and establishing safe channels of communication and travel enabling families to reunite;
(iii) Undertakes a full review of the legal framework governing national security, counter-terrorism and minority rights in XUAR to ensure their compliance with binding international human rights law, and urgently repeal all discriminatory laws, policies and practices against Uyghur and other predominantly Muslim minorities in XUAR, in particular those that have led to the serious human rights violations as detailed in this assessment;
(iv) Promptly investigates allegations of human rights violations in VETCs and other detention facilities, including allegations of torture, sexual violence, ill-treatment, forced medical treatment, as well as forced labour and reports of deaths in custody;
(v) Implements, as a matter of priority, the Concluding Observations from the UN Committee against Torture and the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, including establishment of an independent oversight mechanism to ensure prompt, impartial and effective investigation into all allegations of torture and ill-treatment;
(vi) Ensures that surveillance both on and offline comply with strict tests of legality, necessity and proportionality, including for matters of national security, and does not infringe on fundamental rights and freedoms of individuals;
(vii) Cooperates with the ILO and social partners in the implementation of the recommendations made by the ILO Committee of Experts on Conventions No. 111 and 122, including by allowing a technical advisory mission, and in the implementation of Conventions No. 29 and 105 on forced labour, and the 2014 Protocol;
(viii) Provides adequate remedy and reparation to victims of human rights violations;
(ix) Clarifies the reports of destruction of mosques, shrines and cemeteries by providing data and information and suspend all such activities in the meantime;
(x) Ceases immediately all intimidation and reprisals against Uyghur and other predominantly Muslim minorities abroad in connection with their advocacy, and their family members in XUAR; and ensure that all citizens including of Uyghur and other predominantly Muslim minorities can hold a valid passport and travel to and from China without fear of reprisals;
(xi) Ratifies the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights; the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance; and the Optional Protocols to the Convention against Torture, to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination and to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women;
(xii) Invites as a matter of priority the Working Group on Enforced and Involuntary Disappearances, the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, the Special Rapporteur on Torture, the Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Minorities, the Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion and Belief, the Special Rapporteur on Cultural Rights and the Working Group on Business and Human Rights to conduct unrestricted country visits to China, including to XUAR; and
(xiii) Continues engagement with OHCHR to enable further assessment of the situation; and facilitates further visits by OHCHR and technical exchanges on human rights issues in XUAR, in follow up to the High Commissioner’s visit.

OHCHR recommends to the business community that it:

(i) Takes all possible measures to meet the responsibility to respect human rights across activities and business relationships as set out the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, including through enhanced human rights due diligence, and report on this transparently; and
(ii) Strengthens human rights risk assessment by companies involved in the surveillance and security sector, including whether products and services could lead to or contribute to adverse human rights impacts, including on the rights to privacy, freedom of movement, and the respect of non-discrimination.

OHCHR recommends to the international community that it supports efforts to strengthen the protection and promotion of human rights in the XUAR region in follow-up to these recommendations. States should further refrain from returning members of Uyghur and other predominantly Muslim minorities to China who are at risk of refoulement and provide humanitarian assistance, including medical and psycho-social support, to victims in the States in which they are located.

August 27, 2024: The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) released an update on the work of the office following the release of the 2022 assessment of the human rights situation in the Uyghur region.

Full Statement

China: Update on the work of UN Human Rights Office

In response to questions in relation to our work on China, particularly as we approach two years since the publication of our Office’s assessment on human rights in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region on 31 August 2022, here is an update.

The High Commissioner and the Office have had detailed exchanges with the Government of China on a range of critical issues, such as counter-terrorism laws and policies, criminal justice, other policies of concern that impact on the human rights of ethnic and religious minorities, including in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region and the Tibet Autonomous Region, equality and non-discrimination, as well as national security and human rights concerns in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

Notably, in June this year, a UN Human Rights team visited China and engaged in dialogue with the authorities, specifically on counter-terrorism policies and the criminal justice system. In particular, on Xinjiang, we understand that many problematic laws and policies remain in place, and we have called again on the authorities to undertake a full review, from the human rights perspective, of the legal framework governing national security and counter-terrorism and to strengthen the protection of minorities against discrimination. Allegations of human rights violations, including torture, need to be fully investigated.

We hope to continue our active engagement with the Government, as well as with civil society actors, to seek tangible progress in the protection of human rights for all in China.

We are also continuing to follow closely the current human rights situation in China, despite the difficulties posed by limited access to information and the fear of reprisals against individuals who engage with the United Nations.

We have continued to raise with the Government individual cases of particular concern, calling on the authorities to take prompt steps to release all individuals arbitrarily deprived of their liberty, and to clarify the status and whereabouts of those whose families have been seeking information about them.

We are continuing to advocate for implementation of these and other recommendations made by us, as well as those made by other human rights mechanisms and during the Human Rights Council’s Universal Periodic Review process.

The High Commissioner is committed to sustained engagement with the Government of China and to advocating on behalf of victims – always guided by the goal of helping improve human rights protections for the people on the ground.

Other Statements and Actions

November 24, 2022: The UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD), under its Early Warning and Urgent Action Procedure, issued a Decision (108) calling on China to investigate human rights violations, to cease reprisals against human rights defenders, provide remedy to those affected, and to review its legal framework related to counter terrorism. The Committee referred the matter to the attention of the Special Advisor of the Secretary-General on the Responsibility to Protect.

Recommendations

Calls upon the State party to immediately investigate all allegations of human rights violations in the XUAR, including those of torture, ill-treatment, sexual violence, forced labour, enforced disappearances and deaths in custody;
Calls upon the State party to immediately release all individuals arbitrarily deprived of their liberty in the XUAR, whether in VETCs or other detention facilities, and to provide relatives of those detained or disappeared with detailed information about their status and well-being;
Recommends that the State party undertake a full review of its legal framework governing national security, counter terrorism and minority rights in the XUAR to ensure their full compliance with the State party’s obligations under the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination;
Urges the State party to immediately cease all intimidation and reprisals against Uyghur and other ethnic Muslim communities, the diaspora and those who speak out in their defence, both domestically and abroad;
Urges the State party to ensure that victims of human rights violations, including Uyghurs and other ethnic Muslim communities, are provided with adequate and effective remedies and reparation;
Also urges the State party to effectively implement the Concluding Observations of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, the Committee against Torture, as well as the recommendations included in the OHCHR Assessment of human rights concerns in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, People’s Republic of China (para. 151);
Reminds all States of their responsibility to cooperate to bring to an end through lawful means any serious breach of human rights obligations, in particular serious violations of the peremptory norm of the prohibition of racial discrimination;
Decides to refer this matter to the attention of the Special Advisor of the Secretary-General on the Responsibility to Protect.

International Labour Organization

The ILO Committee of Experts on the Application of Conventions and Recommendations has raised concerns over discrimination in labor conditions in the Uyghur region in their 2021, 2022, and 2023 reports.

2023 Recommendations

The Committee, considering information from "the Government, the discussions in the Conference Committee, ITUC observations and the findings of UN bodies," reiterated its "deep concern in respect of the serious allegations of discrimination against ethnic and religious minorities in Xinjiang, which appears to be based on policy directions expressed in numerous national and regional policy and regulatory documents," and urged the Government "once again" to:

(i) review its national and regional policies with a view to eliminating all distinction, exclusion or preference which has the effect of nullifying or impairing equality of opportunity and treatment in employment and occupation;
(ii) repeal provisions in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (Xinjiang) Regulation that impose deradicalization obligations on enterprises and trade unions and prevent enterprises and trade unions from playing their respective roles in promoting equality of opportunity and treatment in employment and occupation without discrimination based on race, national extraction, religion or political opinion;
(iii) revise national and regional policies with a view to ensuring that the activities of vocational guidance, vocational training and placement services serve the purpose of assisting ethnic and religious minorities in the development and use of their capabilities for work in their own best interests and in accordance with their own aspirations, account being taken of the needs of society;
(iv) amend national and regional regulatory provisions with a view to reorienting the mandate of vocational training and education centres from deradicalization based on ethnic and religious stereotypes and ideological education based on administrative detention towards the purpose set out in (iii);
(v) provide detailed information on the allegedly small number of persons affected by the Government’s deradicalization policy; the conditions under which they are subject to administrative detention and any programmes related to training, employment or occupation; and the conditions under which they are released as it affects their access to the labour market;
(vi) provide information on the measures taken to ensure observance of the policy to promote equality of opportunity and treatment in vocational training activities carried out in Xinjiang’s vocational training and education centres; and
(vii) provide information on the measures taken to ensure observance of the policy to promote equality of opportunity and treatment for the Uyghurs and other ethnic minority groups when seeking to access employment outside the Xinjiang Autonomous Region.

Noting information regarding "Equality of opportunity and treatment for ethnic and religious minorities, including in the civil service," the Committee asked the Government to continue to:

provide information on the measures taken, and their results, to promote equality of opportunity and treatment for ethnic and religious minorities within China, including information on the current employment situation of various ethnic and religious minorities inside and outside the autonomous regions as well as employment data disaggregated by sex and ethnicity in the civil service.

2022 Recommendations

The Committee expressed "deep concern in respect of the policy directions expressed in numerous national and regional policy and regulatory documents" and requested the Government to:

(i) review its national and regional policies with a view to eliminating all distinction, exclusion or preference which has the effect of nullifying or impairing equality of opportunity and treatment in employment and occupation;
(ii) repeal provisions in the XUAR decision that impose de-radicalization duties on enterprises and trade unions and prevent enterprises and trade unions from playing their respective roles in promoting equality of opportunity and treatment in employment and occupation without discrimination based on race, national extraction, religion or political opinion;
(iii) revise national and regional policies with a view to ensuring that the activities of vocational guidance, vocational training and placement service serve the purpose of assisting ethnic and religious minorities in the development and use of their capabilities for work in their own best interests and in accordance with their own aspirations, account being taken of the needs of society;
(iv) amend national and regional regulatory provisions with a view to re-orienting the mandate of vocational training and education centres from political re-education based on administrative detention towards the purpose set out in (iii);
(v) provide information on the measures taken to ensure observance of the policy to promote equality of opportunity and treatment in vocational training activities carried out in Xinjiang’s vocational training and education centres; and
(vi) provide information on the measures taken to ensure observance of the policy to promote equality of opportunity and treatment for the Uyghurs and other ethnic minority groups when seeking to access employment outside the Xianjing [sic] Autonomous Province.

Noting information from the government regarding "Equality of opportunity and treatment of ethnic and religious minorities, including in the civil service," the Committee requested the Government to:

continue to provide information on the measures taken, and their results, to promote equality of opportunity and treatment for ethnic and religious minorities, indicating if, and how, the social partners and the groups concerned are consulted when designing and implementing such measures; and
provide information on the current employment situation of various ethnic and religious minorities inside and outside the autonomous regions, including employment data disaggregated by sex and ethnicity in the civil service.

2021 Recommendations

UN Member States (Human Rights Council)

From 2019–2023, a group of member states at the UN Human Rights Council have released joint statements expressing concern over the situation in the Uyghur region, and calling for the Chinese government to respect human rights and implement UN recommendations.

2023 Joint Statement

Interactive Dialogue/Presentation of the Annual Report by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights

Joint Statement Delivered by Ambassador Michèle Taylor

Human Rights Council – 53rd Session

June 20, 2023

Thank you, Mr. President.

Mr. High Commissioner, we deliver this statement on behalf of 67 states.

We begin by recalling the grievous history of destruction of diverse forms of indigenous and local cultures in many parts of the world, policies that have harmed these populations by denying them their beliefs, their history, and their dignity, while impoverishing humankind as a whole.

International law prohibits discrimination, including that based on religious or ethnic identity, and protects minorities in the enjoyment of their culture, the professing of their religion, and the use of their language.

Despite these clear obligations, in some parts of the world deplorable human rights violations are being committed against persons belonging to religious, linguistic, national, and ethnic minorities, often with the stated aim of mitigating a perceived security threat. Government laws and policies specifically restrict and suppress practices that are part of the identity and cultural life of persons belonging to minorities: authorities destroy cultural heritage sites, cemeteries and places of worship; suppress languages; forcibly assimilate children through the educational system; place severe restrictions on movement; and restrict access to livelihoods, education, and healthcare.

Mr. High Commissioner, we reiterate the importance of promoting universal respect for human rights. We call on all governments around the world, including our own government, to uphold their duties and respect the rights of persons belonging to minorities – to allow the culture of ethnic and religious minorities to flourish, and to respect the ability of everyone to worship as they please, to speak the language of their parents, as well as to use their traditional knowledge and to participate in the social institutions of their choice.

I thank you.

Signed by:

Albania
Andorra
Antigua and Barbuda
Armenia
Australia
Austria
Belgium
Bosnia 
Bulgaria 
Canada
Colombia
Costa Rica
Croatia 
Czechia
Cyprus
Denmark
Ecuador
Estonia 
Eswatini
Fiji
Finland
France
Gambia
Georgia
Germany
Greece
Guatemala
Haiti
Honduras 
Hungary
Iceland
Ireland
India
Israel
Italy
Japan
Korea, Republic of
Latvia
Lebanon
Liberia
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Malta
Marshall Islands
Moldova
Monaco
Montenegro
Morocco
Netherlands
New Zealand
North Macedonia
Norway
Paraguay 
Poland
Portugal 
Romania
San Marino 
Slovakia
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
Ukraine
United Kingdom
United States
Vanuatu

2022 Joint Statement

Joint Statement on the Human Rights Situation in China

Item 2 – Interactive Dialogue on the High Commissioner’s Annual Report, 50^thSession of the UN Human Rights Council

Delivered by H.E. Ambassador Paul Bekkers, Permanent Representative, Kingdom of the Netherlands

June 14, 2022

Mr. President,

I have the honour of delivering this cross-regional joint statement on behalf of 47 countries*.

Madam High Commissioner,

We continue to be gravely concerned about the human rights situation in Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. Numerous extensively researched and credible reports indicate that over a million people have been arbitrarily detained. Furthermore there are reports of ongoing widespread surveillance, discrimination against Uyghurs and other persons belonging to minorities as well as of severe restrictions on Uyghur culture and the exercise of human rights and fundamental freedoms, including the right to freedom of religion or belief. We are also concerned about reports of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, forced sterilization, sexual and gender-based violence, forced labour, and forced separation of children from their parents by authorities.

We repeat our call on China to urgently address these concerns and implement the CERD’s eight recommendations relating to Xinjiang from August 2018, as well as the concerns raised by numerous Special Procedures since that time, including to end the arbitrary detention of Muslim Uyghurs and persons belonging to other minorities.

We also continue to be gravely concerned about the deterioration of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms in Hong Kong and the human rights situation in Tibet.

We urge China to ensure full respect for the rule of law, to comply with obligations under national and international law with regard to the protection of human rights and to ratify the ICCPR. In addition, we urge the Chinese government to provide meaningful and unfettered access for independent observers to Xinjiang, including Special Procedures. In view of the severity of the situation in Xinjiang, we call on all countries to respect the principle of non-refoulement.

Finally, we acknowledge your recent visit to China, including Xinjiang, which provided an opportunity for dialogue with the Chinese authorities on various human rights related concerns, and your statement of 28 May. We are interested in more detailed observations, including on the restrictions the Chinese authorities imposed on the visit as well as on your access to members of civil society and to places of your choice.

Madame High Commissioner, recalling your announcement at HRC48 that your Office would release a report on human rights in Xinjiang, we look forward to its prompt release. Could you provide the Council with further information on the timeline?

Thank you.

This statement was supported by:Albania, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Belize, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Eswatini, Finland, France, Germany, Guatemala, Honduras, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Marshall Islands, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Norway, Palau, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America (47).

2021 Joint Statement

June 22, 2021

Madame High Commissioner, I have the honour of delivering this cross-regional joint statement on behalf of 44 countries.

We are gravely concerned about the human rights situation in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. Credible reports indicate that over a million people have been arbitrarily detained in Xinjiang and that there is widespread surveillance disproportionately targeting Uyghurs and members of other minorities and restrictions on fundamental freedoms and Uyghur culture. There are also reports of torture or cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment, forced sterilization, sexual and gender-based violence, and forced separation of children from their parents by authorities.

We also share the concerns expressed by UN Special Procedures in their March 29 statement on alleged detention, forced labour and transfers of Uyghurs and members of other Muslim minorities and in a letter published by UN experts describing collective repression of religious and ethnic minorities.

We urge China to allow immediate, meaningful and unfettered access to Xinjiang for independent observers, including the High Commissioner, and to urgently implement the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination’s 8 recommendations related to Xinjiang, including by ending the arbitrary detention of Uyghurs and members of other Muslim minorities.

Finally, we continue to be deeply concerned about the deterioration of fundamental freedoms in Hong Kong under the National Security Law and about the human rights situation in Tibet. We call on Chinese authorities to abide by their human rights obligations.

Thank you.

Signatories

Albania
Australia
Austria
Belgium
Belize
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bulgaria
Canada
Croatia
Czech Republic
Denmark
Estonia
France
Finland
Germany
Haiti
Honduras
Iceland
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Japan
Latvia
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Marshall Islands
Monaco
Nauru
Netherlands
New Zealand
Norway
Palau
Poland
Portugal
Romania
San Marino
Slovakia
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
United Kingdom
United States

2020 Joint Statement

June 30, 2020

Thank you Madam President. I am delivering this cross-regional joint statement on behalf of 27 countries.

A number of the signatories to this statement submitted a letter last year to express concern about arbitrary detention, widespread surveillance and restrictions, particularly targeting Uyghurs and other minorities in Xinjiang. These deep concerns have been reinforced by additional information now in the public domain. We urge China to allow the High Commissioner meaningful access to Xinjiang at the earliest opportunity.

We further wish to raise our deep and growing concerns at the imposition of legislation related to national security on Hong Kong, with clear implications for the human rights of people in Hong Kong.

The Joint Declaration, a legally binding treaty, registered with the United Nations, sets out that Hong Kong is guaranteed a high degree of autonomy and rights and freedoms, including those of the person, of the press, of assembly, and of association and that the ICCPR and ICESCR shall remain in force. These rights are also guaranteed in the basic law for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

Making such a law without the direct participation of Hong Kong’s people, legislature or judiciary of Hong Kong undermines ‘One Country, Two Systems’.

We urge the Chinese and Hong Kong Governments to reconsider the imposition of this legislation and to engage Hong Kong’s people, institutions and judiciary to prevent further erosion of the rights and freedoms that the people of Hong Kong have enjoyed for many years.

High Commissioner, we note your calls for legislation to respect human rights obligations relating to Hong Kong, and the serious concerns raised by the mechanisms of this council. We encourage you to provide regular information on the human rights situation in Xinjiang and Hong Kong, in order to safeguard the rights and freedoms which are guaranteed under international law.

Thank you

As of 15 July, this statement was supported by Albania, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Belize, Canada, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Iceland, Ireland, Germany, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Palau, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom

2019 Joint Letter

Mr. President, Madam High Commissioner,

We, the co-signatories to this letter, are concerned about credible reports of arbitrary detention in large-scale places of detention, as well as widespread surveillance and restrictions, particularly targeting Uighurs and other minorities in Xinjiang, China.

We recall China's obligations as a member of the UN Human Rights Council to "uphold the highest standards in the promotion and protection of human rights and fully cooperate with the Council."

We recall the 2018 concluding observations of the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) in its review of China, which expressed concern about disturbing reports of large-scale arbitrary detentions of Uighurs, and other Muslim and minority communities. We also share concerns expressed by the High Commissioner for Human Rights and by several UN Special Procedures mandate holders in this regard.

We call on China to uphold its national laws and international obligations and to respect human rights and fundamental freedoms, including freedom of religion or belief, in Xinjiang and across China. We call also on China to refrain from the arbitrary detention and restrictions on freedom of movement of Uighurs, and other Muslim and minority communities in Xinjiang.

We welcome China's acceptance of a Universal Periodic Review recommendation to respond positively to a country visit request by the UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief and urge China to allow meaningful access to Xinjiang for independent international observers, including for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. We further call on China to implement the related recommendations in the concluding observations of CERD. We ask the High Commissioner for Human Rights to keep the Human Rights Council regularly informed.

We request that this letter be recorded as a document of the 41st Session of the Human Rights Council and that it be published on the OHCHR website.

To the President of the Human Rights Council,

We, the undersigned, have the honour to transmit herewith a joint letter on behalf of the undersigned states. We would be highly appreciative if you could kindly circulate the present letter and the annex thereto and record them as a document of the forty-first session of the Human Rights Council, to be published on the website of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.

UN Member States (Third Committee)

From 2019–2024, a group of member states at the UN Third Committee have released a joint statement expressing concern over the situation in the Uyghur region, and calling for the Chinese government to respect human rights and implement UN recommendations.

2024 Joint Statement (Australia)

UNGA79 Third Committee: General Discussion On Human Rights: Joint Statement on the Human Rights Situation in Xinjiang and Tibet

Statement delivered by H.E. Mr James Larsen, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Australia to the United Nations

22 October 2024

I have the honour of delivering this joint statement on behalf of the following countries Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Japan, Lithuania, Kingdom of the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, United Kingdom, United States of America, and my own country, Australia.

These countries are all committed to universal human rights and have ongoing concerns about serious human rights violations in China.

Two years ago, the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights’ assessment on Xinjiang concluded that serious human rights violations had been committed in Xinjiang, and that the scale of the arbitrary and discriminatory detention of Uyghurs and other predominately Muslim minorities in Xinjiang "may constitute international crimes, in particular crimes against humanity".

Subsequently, United Nations' Treaty Bodies have taken similar views and made similar recommendations, including: The CERD in November 2022 through its concluding observations and Urgent Action Decision on Xinjiang; and The CRPD, CESCR and CEDAW in their September 2022, March 2023 and May 2023 Concluding Observations.

The Working Group on Arbitrary Detention has issued communications concerning multiple cases of arbitrary detention and enforced disappearances, and over 20 Special Procedure Mandate Holders have expressed concern about systemic human rights violations in Xinjiang.

Relying extensively on China's own records, these comprehensive findings and recommendations by independent human rights experts from all geographic regions detail evidence of large-scale arbitrary detention, family separation, enforced disappearances and forced labour, systematic surveillance on the basis of religion and ethnicity; severe and undue restrictions on cultural, religious, and linguistic identity and expression; torture and sexual and gender-based violence, including forced abortion and sterilisation; and the destruction of religious and cultural sites.

China has had many opportunities meaningfully to address the UN's well-founded concerns.

Instead, China labelled the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights’ assessment as 'illegal and void during its Universal Periodic Review adoption in July.

According to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights’ statement in August, the problematic laws and policies in Xinjiang continue to remain in place.

The statement again called on China to undertake a full review, from the human rights perspective, of the legal framework governing national security and counterterrorism.

Mr Chair, as with our concerns for the situation in Xinjiang, we are also seriously concerned about credible reports detailing human rights abuses in Tibet.

United Nations human rights treaty bodies and United Nations Special Procedures have detailed the detention of Tibetans for the peaceful expression of political views; restrictions on travel; coercive labour arrangements; separation of children from families in boarding schools; and erosion of linguistic, cultural, educational and religious rights and freedoms in Tibet.

We urge China to uphold the international human rights obligations that it has voluntarily assumed, and to fully implement all UN recommendations including from the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights’ assessment, Treaty Bodies and other United Nations human rights mechanisms.

This includes releasing all individuals arbitrarily detained in both Xinjiang and Tibet, and urgently clarifying the fate and whereabouts of missing family members.

Transparency and openness are key to allaying concerns, and we call on China to allow unfettered and meaningful access to Xinjiang and Tibet for independent observers, including from the UN, to evaluate the human rights situation.

No country has a perfect human rights record, but no country is above fair scrutiny of its human rights obligations.

It is incumbent on all of us not to undermine international human rights commitments that benefit us all, and for which all states are accountable.

Thank you.

2023 Joint Statement (United Kingdom)

October 18, 2023

Thank you Mr. Chair, I have the honour of delivering this cross-regional joint statement on behalf of the following 51 countries: Albania, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Eswatini, Fiji, Finland, France, Germany, Guatemala, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Nauru, Netherlands, North Macedonia, New Zealand, Norway, Palau, Paraguay, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Marshall Islands, Romania, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tuvalu, Ukraine, United States, and my own country, the United Kingdom.

Members of Uyghur and other predominantly Muslim minorities in Xinjiang continue to suffer serious violations of their human rights by the authorities of the People’s Republic of China.

The UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) relied extensively on China’s own records when it published its Assessment of human rights concerns in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region.

This independent and authoritative assessment found evidence of large-scale arbitrary detention and systematic use of invasive surveillance on the basis of religion and ethnicity; severe and undue restrictions to legitimate cultural and religious practices, identity and expression, including reports of destruction of religious sites; torture, ill-treatment and sexual and gender-based violence, including forced abortion and sterilisation; enforced disappearances and family separations; and forced labour.

The assessment concluded that the arbitrary and discriminatory detention of members of Uyghur and other predominantly Muslim minorities on a large scale in Xinjiang “may constitute international crimes, in particular crimes against humanity.”

Over a year has passed since that assessment was released and yet China has not engaged in any constructive discussion of these findings.

Last month, at the 54th Session of the Human Rights Council, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, called on China to follow the recommendations of the assessment and take “strong remedial action.”

So far, we have not seen evidence of China taking any such action.

We urge China to end its violations of human rights in Xinjiang, engage constructively with the OHCHR, and fully implement the recommendations of the assessment.

Thank you.

2022 Joint Statement (Canada)

October 31, 2022

I have the honor of delivering this cross-regional joint statement on behalf of the following 50 countries: Albania, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Belize, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, Eswatini, Finland, France, Germany, Guatemala, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Marshall Islands, Monaco, Montenegro, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Norway, Palau, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Somalia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkiye, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States, and my own country Canada.

We are gravely concerned about the human rights situation in the People’s Republic of China, especially the ongoing human rights violations of Uyghurs and other predominantly Muslim minorities in Xinjiang.

The release of the recent UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) Assessment of human rights concerns in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, People’s Republic of China, corroborates these concerns in an impartial and objective manner. The assessment finds that the scale of the arbitrary and discriminatory detention of Uyghurs and other predominantly Muslim minorities in Xinjiang “may constitute international crimes, in particular crimes against humanity”.

As an independent, authoritative assessment that relies extensively on China’s own records, it makes an important contribution to the existing evidence of serious and systematic human rights violations in China. This includes evidence of large-scale arbitrary detention and systematic use of invasive surveillance on the basis of religion and ethnicity; severe and undue restrictions to legitimate cultural and religious practices, identity and expression, including reports of destruction of mosques, shrines and cemeteries; torture, ill-treatment and sexual and gender-based violence, including forced abortion and sterilization; enforced disappearances and family separations; and forced labour. Such 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. In that context, we urge the Government of China to uphold its international human rights obligations and to fully implement the recommendations of the OHCHR assessment. This includes taking 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.

We believe that addressing human rights violations, engaging in meaningful dialogue, and working together as partners are foundational to creating more inclusive societies where all can fully enjoy their human rights. We encourage all to adopt this approach.

Thank you.

2021 Joint Statement (France)

October 21, 2021

I have the honor of delivering this cross-regional joint statement on behalf of the following 43 countries: Albania, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Eswatini, Finland, Germany, Honduras, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Marshall Islands, Monaco, Montenegro, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Norway, Palau, Poland, Portugal, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States, and my own country France.

We are particularly concerned about the situation in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region.

Credible-based reports indicate the existence of a large network of “political re-education” camps where over a million people have been arbitrarily detained. We have seen an increasing number of reports of widespread and systematic human rights violations, including reports documenting torture or cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment, forced sterilization, sexual and gender-based violence, and forced separation of children. There are severe restrictions on freedom of religion or belief and the freedoms of movement, association and expression as well as on Uyghur culture. Widespread surveillance disproportionately continues to target Uyghurs and members of other minorities.

We also share the concerns expressed by UN Special Procedures in their 29 March statement and the letter published by UN experts describing collective repression of religious and ethnic minorities.

We thus call on China to allow immediate, meaningful and unfettered access to Xinjiang for independent observers, including the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and her Office, and relevant special procedure mandate holders, as well as to urgently implement CERD’s eight recommendations related to Xinjiang. We welcome the High Commissioner’s announcement to present her findings to date and encourage publication as soon as possible. In view of our concerns about the human rights situation in Xinjiang, we call on all countries to respect the principle of non-refoulement. We also call on China to ratify without delay the ICCPR.

We urge China to ensure full respect for the rule of law and to comply with its obligations under national and international law with regard to the protection of human rights.

Thank you.

2020 Joint Statement (Germany)

October 6, 2020

Mr. President,

I have the honour of delivering this cross-regional joint statement on behalf of the following countries: Albania, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Haiti, Honduras, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Monaco, Nauri, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Norway, Palau, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, the United States and my own country Germany.

We are gravely concerned about the human rights situation in Xinjiang and the recent developments in Hong Kong.

In June, 50 UN Special Procedures mandate holders issued an exceptional letter of concern, calling on the People’s Republic of China to respect human rights. We share their grave concerns. We call on China to respect human rights, particularly the rights of persons belonging to religious and ethnic minorities, especially in Xinjiang and Tibet.

On Xinjiang, we are gravely concerned about the existence of a large network of “political re-education camps” where credible reports indicate that over a million people have been arbitrarily detained. We have seen an increasing number of reports of gross human rights violations, including severe restrictions on freedom of religion or belief and the freedoms of movement, association, and expression as well as on Uyghur culture. Widespread surveillance disproportionately continues to target Uyghurs and other minorities and more reports are emerging of forced labour and forced birth control including sterilization.

We also share concerns expressed separately by a group of UN experts that a number of provisions in the Hong Kong National Security Law do not conform to China's international legal obligations. We have deep concerns about elements of the National Security Law that allow for certain cases to be transferred for prosecution to the Chinese mainland. We urge the relevant authorities to guarantee the rights which are protected under the ICCPR (International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights) and the Sino-British Joint Declaration, including freedoms of speech, the press and assembly.

Mr. Chair, we call on China to allow immediate, meaningful and unfettered access to Xinjiang for independent observers including the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and her Office, and relevant special procedure mandate holders; to urgently implement CERD’s eight recommendations related to Xinjiang, including by refraining from the arbitrary detention of Uyghurs and members of other minorities. In view of our concerns about the human rights situation in Xinjiang, we call on all countries to respect the principle of non-refoulement. We also call on China to uphold autonomy, rights and freedoms in Hong Kong, and to respect the independence of the Hong Kong judiciary.

Thank you.

2019 Joint Statement (United States)

Ambassador Karen Pierce
Permanent Representative
UK Mission to the United Nations
New York, New York
October 29, 2019

Mr. President,

I have the honour to read this statement on Xinjiang on behalf of a group 23 countries including:

Albania, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, United States of America, and of course the United Kingdom.

We share the concerns raised by the Committee for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination in their August 2018 Concluding Observations on China regarding credible reports of mass detention; efforts to restrict cultural and religious practices; mass surveillance disproportionately targeting ethnic Uighurs; and other human rights violations and abuses in the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region.

We call on the Chinese government to uphold its national laws and international obligations and commitments to respect human rights, including freedom of religion or belief, in Xinjiang and across China. The Chinese government should urgently implement CERD’s eight recommendations related to Xinjiang, including by refraining from the arbitrary detention of Uighurs and members of other Muslim communities. In view of these concerns, we call on all countries to respect the principle of non-refoulement.

Furthermore, we call on the Chinese government to allow the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and UN Special Procedures immediate unfettered, meaningful access to Xinjiang.

UHRP welcomes questions and comments at info@uhrp.org

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