EU Statement at the 55th Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council
Item 4 – Human Rights situation that require the Council’s attention
20 March 2024
(…)
The EU reiterates its concerns about the very serious human rights situation in China. Numerous reports by UN Treaty Bodies and Special Rapporteurs, and in particular the report of human rights concerns in China’s Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region by the OHCHR, confirm that the human rights situation requires the urgent attention of the Government of China, UN bodies and the human rights system. The EU remains concerned about political re-education camps, mass arbitrary detentions, widespread surveillance, tracking and control measures, systemic and severe restrictions on the exercise of fundamental freedoms, including freedom of religion or belief, as well as the non-transparent use of the death penalty, the use of forced labour, torture, forced abortion and sterilisation, birth control and family separation policies, and sexual and gender-based violence, especially in Xinjiang. Obligatory boarding schooling and DNA sampling, as reported by civil society organisations, are a further indicator of the dire human rights situation in Tibet. HRDs, human rights lawyers, journalists, independent reporters, other media workers, academics, writers and intellectuals among others continue to be exposed to harassment, intimidation and surveillance, including at transnational level. They are subjected to exit bans, house arrest, torture and ill-treatment, unlawful detention, sentencing and enforced disappearance including via Residential Surveillance in a Designated Location (RSDL) that could amount to torture and ill-treatment. The EU urges China to abide by its obligations under national law, including its own Constitution, and international law, to respect, protect and fulfil human rights for all, including Uyghurs, Tibetans and persons belonging to ethnic, religious, linguistic and other groups across China. This includes fully respecting the rule of law. The EU urges China to introduce a moratorium on the death penalty, adopt rigorous procedures for reviewing capital sentences and reporting death penalty cases.China must also respect the principle of non-refoulement and refrain from any extraterritorial activity (including coercion) that is not in line with international law. The EU expects China to effectively cooperate with the OHCHR and to implement the recommendations of the relevant OHCHR report on Xinjiang and with all international human rights mechanisms, including the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination and the Committee against Torture. The EU continues to closely monitor the situation and calls for the immediate and unconditional release of, among others, Anya Sengdra, Pastor Cao Sanqiang, Chadrel Rinpoche, Chang Weiping, Chen Yunfei, Cheng Yuan, Ding Jiaxi, Ding Yuande, Ekpar Asat, Gao Zhisheng, Go Sherab Gyatso, Golog Palden, Gulshan Abbas, He Fangmei, Huang Qi, Huang Xueqin, Sakharov Prize winner Ilham Tohti, Isa Hushtar, Isa Yalkun, Kamile Wayit, Li Qiaochu, Li Yanhe, Li Yuhan, Peng Lifa, Qin Yongming, Qin Yongpei, Rahile Dawut, Ruan Xiaohuan, Tashi Dorje, Tashpolat Tiyip, Semkyi Dolma, Wang Aizhong, Wang Bingzhang, Wang Jianbing, Pastor Wang Yi, Wang Zang, Xu Na, Xu Qin, Xu Yan, Xu Zhiyong, Yang Maodong, Yu Wensheng, Pastor Zhang Chunlei, Zangkar Jamyang and Zhang Zhan, as well as EU citizen Gui Minhai whose right to consular access must be respected.
(…)
Remarks: The above quote is from the full statement available on the UNHRC’s extranet, but it was shortened when delivered.
Source: https://www.eeas.europa.eu/delegations/un-geneva/hrc55-item-4-general-debate-human-rights-situations-require-council%E2%80%99s-attention_en?s=62