Global Alliance for Tibet & Persecuted Minorities Welcomes UN Statement on Human Rights Abuses in China

23rd October 2024 | London | GATPM

Global Alliance for Tibet & Persecuted Minorities Welcomes UN Statement on Human Rights Abuses in China

The Global Alliance for Tibet & Persecuted Minorities (GATPM) applauds the joint statement delivered at the UN General Assembly by a coalition of nations, led by Australia, condemning human rights violations in Tibet and Xinjiang (East Turkestan), both currently occupied by the People’s Republic of China.

The statement, delivered on October 22nd by Ambassador James Larsen of Australia, highlights the critical need for international action to address the ongoing abuses faced by Uyghurs and other minorities in Xinjiang, as well as Tibetans in their homeland. The alliance of progressive nations including Australia, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Japan, Lithuania, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the United States, demonstrates a courageous and principled commitment to universal human rights. 

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights’ assessment detailed widespread human rights violations, including forced labour, mass detentions, torture, and the erosion of cultural and religious freedoms. These findings, coupled with credible reports from Tibet, demand urgent attention from the global community.

GATPM urges all UN member states to join this growing coalition. We call for independent investigations, the release of all arbitrarily detained individuals, and unwavering support for the fundamental human rights of the people in Tibet and Xinjiang.

This situation transcends regional boundaries and represents a critical test of our collective commitment to human dignity, freedom, and justice.

“We are encouraged by the actions of these countries, but the fight is far from over,” said Tsering Passang, Founder and Chair of GATPM. “The time for united action is now. Together, we can make a lasting difference for those suffering under oppression.”

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241022 – UNGA79 Third Committee: General Discussion on Human Rights: Joint statement on the human rights situation in Xinjiang and Tibet

UNGA79 THIRD COMMITTEE: GENERAL DISCUSSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS: JOINT STATEMENT ON THE HUMAN RIGHTS SITUATION IN XINJIANG AND TIBET

Statement delivered by H.E. Mr James Larsen, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Australia to the United Nations

22 October 2024

I have the honour of delivering this joint statement on behalf of the following countries Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Japan, Lithuania, Kingdom of the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, United Kingdom, United States of America, and my own country, Australia.

These countries are all committed to universal human rights and have ongoing concerns about serious human rights violations in China.

Two years ago, the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights’ assessment on Xinjiang concluded that serious human rights violations had been committed in Xinjiang, and that the scale of the arbitrary and discriminatory detention of Uyghurs and other predominately Muslim minorities in Xinjiang “may constitute international crimes, in particular crimes against humanity”.

Subsequently, United Nations’ Treaty Bodies have taken similar views and made similar recommendations, including: The CERD in November 2022 through its concluding observations and Urgent Action Decision on Xinjiang; and The CRPD, CESCR and CEDAW in their September 2022, March 2023 and May 2023 Concluding Observations.

The Working Group on Arbitrary Detention has issued communications concerning multiple cases of arbitrary detention and enforced disappearances, and over 20 Special Procedure Mandate Holders have expressed concern about systemic human rights violations in Xinjiang.

Relying extensively on China’s own records, these comprehensive findings and recommendations by independent human rights experts from all geographic regions detail evidence of large-scale arbitrary detention, family separation, enforced disappearances and forced labour, systematic surveillance on the basis of religion and ethnicity; severe and undue restrictions on cultural, religious, and linguistic identity and expression; torture and sexual and gender-based violence, including forced abortion and sterilisation; and the destruction of religious and cultural sites.

China has had many opportunities meaningfully to address the UN’s well-founded concerns.

Instead, China labelled the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights’ assessment as ‘illegal and void during its Universal Periodic Review adoption in July.

According to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights’ statement in August, the problematic laws and policies in Xinjiang continue to remain in place.

The statement again called on China to undertake a full review, from the human rights perspective, of the legal framework governing national security and counterterrorism.

Mr Chair, as with our concerns for the situation in Xinjiang, we are also seriously concerned about credible reports detailing human rights abuses in Tibet.

United Nations human rights treaty bodies and United Nations Special Procedures have detailed the detention of Tibetans for the peaceful expression of political views; restrictions on travel; coercive labour arrangements; separation of children from families in boarding schools; and erosion of linguistic, cultural, educational and religious rights and freedoms in Tibet.

We urge China to uphold the international human rights obligations that it has voluntarily assumed, and to fully implement all UN recommendations including from the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights’ assessment, Treaty Bodies and other United Nations human rights mechanisms.

This includes releasing all individuals arbitrarily detained in both Xinjiang and Tibet, and urgently clarifying the fate and whereabouts of missing family members.

Transparency and openness are key to allaying concerns, and we call on China to allow unfettered and meaningful access to Xinjiang and Tibet for independent observers, including from the UN, to evaluate the human rights situation.

No country has a perfect human rights record, but no country is above fair scrutiny of its human rights obligations.

It is incumbent on all of us not to undermine international human rights commitments that benefit us all, and for which all states are accountable.

Thank you.

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office of the United Kingdom

Human rights go hand in hand with sustainable development: UK Statement at the UN Third Committee – Statement by Alex Berelowitz, Second Secretary Human Rights at the General Debate of the UN Third Committee.