EU Statement at the 57th Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council
Item 4 – Human Rights situation that require the Council’s attention
24 September 2024
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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 OHCHR’s assessment report on human rights in China’s Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, 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 and labour transfer schemes, torture, forced abortion and sterilization, birth control and family separation policies, and sexual and gender-based violence, especially in Xinjiang. The human rights situation in Tibet continues to be dire. Indicators of this include obligatory boarding schooling and DNA sampling, as reported by civil society organisations. The EU will closely monitor the preservation of the fundamental freedoms, cultural heritage and identity of Tibetans and calls on China to ensure full bilingual education both in Tibetan and Chinese at all levels of the schooling system. Cases of closure of schools teaching in Tibetan language are a worrying development. The EU also encourages China to allow more visits from the international community, UN Special Procedures Mandate Holders and civil society organisations to Tibet. Human rights defenders, lawyers, journalists, 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 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 extraterritorial activities (including coercion) that are not in line with international law. The EU expects China to cooperate effectively with the OHCHR and to implement the recommendations of its assessment report on Xinjiang and of the Universal Periodic Review, as well as with international human rights mechanisms, including all relevant Special Procedures mandates, and the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination and the Committee against Torture. The EU condemns all reprisals against those individuals and/or civil society organizations who seek to cooperate with the United Nations to promote and protect human rights. The EU continues to urge China to abide by its obligations under national law, including its own Constitution, and international law, to respect, protect and fulfil the rule of law and human rights for all, including Uyghurs, Tibetans and other persons belonging to national or ethnic, linguistic, religious or other groups and minorities across China. The EU continues to closely monitor the situation and calls for the immediate and unconditional release of human rights activists, among others, Gulshan Abbas, Anya Sengdra, Ekpar Asat, Chadrel Rinpoche, Chen Yunfei, Rahile Dawut, Ding Jiaxi, Ding Yuande, Gao Zhisheng, Go Sherab Gyatso, Golog Palden, He Fangmei, Huang Qi, Huang Xueqin, Hushtar Isa, Yalkun Isa, Li Yanhe, Peng Lifa, Qin Yongming, Qin Yongpei, Ruan Xiaohuan, Semkyi Dolma, Tashi Dorje, Tashpolat Tiyip, Sakharov Prize winner Ilham Tohti, Wang Bingzhang, Wang Jianbing, Pastor Wang Yi, Kamile Wayit, Xu Na, Xu Qin, Xu Yan, Xu Zhiyong, Yang Henjung, Yang Maodong, Yu Wensheng, and Pastor Zhang Chunlei and Zhang Zhan, as well as EU citizen Gui Minhai whose right to consular access must be respected.
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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/hrc57-item-4-general-debate-human-rights-situations-require-council%E2%80%99s-attention_en?s=62