The United Nations Human Rights Council on Thursday voted to reject a Western-led proposal to hold a debate over China’s allegations of human rights abuses against the Uighurs and others. other Muslims in Xinjiang in a victory for Beijing as it seeks to avoid greater scrutiny.
The defeat – 19 against, 17 in favor, 11 abstained – was only the second time in the council’s 16-year history that a proposal was rejected and seen by observers as a setback to the entire resolution effort. Western ethics body on human rights. and the credibility of the United Nations itself.
USA, Canada and the UK is one of the countries to make the move.
“This is a disaster. This is really disappointing,” said Dolkun Isa, president of the World Uyghur Congress, whose mother died in the camp and two brothers missing.
“We will never give up but we are really disappointed by the response of Muslim countries,” he added.
Qatar, Indonesia, United Arab Emirates and Pakistan rejected the offer, citing the latter citing the risk of alienating China. Phil Lynch, director of International Human Rights Services, called the voting record “shameful” on Twitter.
China’s special envoy warned before the vote that the move would set a precedent for examining other countries’ human rights records.
“Today China is the target. Tomorrow, any other developing country will be targeted,” said Chen Xu, adding that a debate would lead to “new confrontations”.
The United Nations human rights office on August 31 released a long-delayed report showing that serious human rights abuses in Xinjiang could constitute crimes against humanity, putting pressure on China. Country.
Human rights groups accuse Beijing of mistreatment of the Uighurs, a predominantly Muslim ethnic minority of about 10 million people in the western region of Xinjiang, including the mass use of forced labor in detention camps. The United States has accused China of genocide. Beijing firmly denies any abuse.
This is the first time that the rights record of China, a powerful permanent member of the Security Council, has been placed on the council’s agenda. The item has been divisive and one diplomat said countries have come under “huge pressure” from Beijing to support China.
Countries such as the UK, US and Germany, vowed to continue moving towards accountability despite Thursday’s results.
However, activists say the failure of such a limited movement, which has stopped short of seeking an investigation, will make it difficult to get it back on the agenda.
Universal Rights Group’s Marc Limon said it was a “serious miscalculation”, citing the timing of the Western-led proposal for action.
“It is a serious blow to the credibility of the council and a clear victory for China,” he said. “Many developing countries will see it as another adjustment to Western dominance in the UN human rights system.”
The event has raised a political dilemma for many of the poor countries on the 47-member council, who are reluctant to openly challenge China for fear of jeopardizing investment.
Others may want to avoid future scrutiny.
