Geneva
China’s rejection of numerous human rights recommendations has drawn sharp criticism from human rights organizations. On June 11, China responded to the UN’s Universal Periodic Review (UPR) conducted in January, accepting 290 out of 428 recommendations. However, none addressed severe human rights abuses like torture and forced disappearances. China has been accused of submitting misleading information and barring domestic civil society groups from participating in the review process.
Despite lobbying for mild questions and vague recommendations, some countries raised genuine concerns based on evidence. China dismissed all recommendations addressing serious violations, resulting in a 30% rejection rate, up from 18% in 2018. The refusal to end reprisals against human rights advocates, particularly on the tenth anniversary of activist Cao Shunli’s death, underscores this stance.
Human rights groups argue that accepting recommendations does not show a real commitment to improvement. Reports indicate that China has continued acts of intimidation against critics. China has also dismissed the 2022 OHCHR report on abuses in Xinjiang. Rights organizations urge the UN to hold China accountable and establish a mechanism to monitor China’s human rights situation annually. Over 50 UN human rights experts call for collective action to ensure China respects international obligations.
