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.