EU Statement at the 40th Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council
Item 4 – Human Rights situation that require the Council’s attention
12 March 2019
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“The EU is concerned about the existence of political re-education camps and widespread surveillance and restrictions particularly targeted at Uyghurs in Xinjiang. We urge China to allow meaningful access to Xinjiang for independent observers, including for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. The EU remains seriously concerned about the reported cases of mistreatment and torture under detention in China, and calls on the authorities to thoroughly investigate them. We call on China to uphold its national and international obligations, and rule of law and to respect freedom of religion or belief, freedom of expression, as well as the right of persons belonging to national minorities especially in Xinjiang and Tibet. The EU continues to be gravely concerned about the detentions and trials of human rights defenders and lawyers including Wang Quangzhang, Yu Wensheng, Qin Yongmin, Gao Zhisheng, Ilham Tohti, Huang Qi, Tashi Wangchuk, Li Yuhan, Wu Gan. The continued detention of EU national Gui Minhai is of serious concern and the EU calls for his immediate release.”
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