EU Statement at the 42nd Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council
Item 4 – Human Rights situation that require the Council’s attention
17 September 2019
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“Regarding China, the EU is concerned about the existence of political re-education camps, widespread surveillance, and restrictions on freedom of religion or belief, against Uighurs and other minorities 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 urges China to ensure rule of law, establish fair trial guarantees and investigate thoroughly reported cases of arbitrary detentions, mistreatment and torture of human rights defenders and their families. We are 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, Tiyip Tashpolat, Li Yuhan, Wu Gan, Cheng Yuan, Liu Dazhi, Wuge Jianxiong. The continued detention of EU national Gui Minhai is of serious concern and the EU calls for his immediate release. We call on China to uphold its national and international obligations, and to respect human rights, including the rights of persons belonging to minorities especially in Xinjiang and Tibet. The EU recalls that fundamental freedoms, including the right of peaceful assembly, and Hong Kong’s high degree of autonomy under the ‘one country, two systems’ principle, are enshrined in the Basic Law and in international agreements and must continue to be upheld.”
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Remarks: The above quote is from the full statement available on the UNHRC’s website, but it was shortened when delivered with only those sentences said: “The EU calls on China to respect human rights, especially in Xinjiang and Tibet. We are concerned about political reeducation camps, surveillance and restrictions particularly targeted at Uyghurs, and detention and violence on human rights defenders.”