China rejects key human rights proposals at latest UN review

The Chinese government’s rejection of recommendations to address its human rights record reflects its disregard for international human rights reviews at the United Nations, according to a joint statement by the Uyghur Human Rights Project and 15 other organizations. The statement was released on June 25, 2024.

On June 11, 2024, the UN disclosed China's decision to accept or reject recommendations from the January 2024 Universal Periodical Review (UPR), a process that examines the human rights records of all UN member states. China announced it would accept 290 out of 428 recommendations, partially accept eight, note 32, and reject 98.

None of the accepted recommendations address concerns raised by UN member states about crimes against humanity, torture, forced disappearance, persecution of human rights defenders and journalists, or other serious violations.

The Chinese government submitted false information during the preparatory process for the January review and blocked domestic civil society groups from participating in preparing the state report or contributing to the review. Through an intense lobbying campaign ahead of the review, China succeeded in having several states ask non-specific questions and make vague recommendations while praising its human rights record. This resulted in numerous weak recommendations that China could easily accept.

Despite this pressure, some countries raised concerns based on evidence compiled by NGOs and UN bodies. However, Beijing rejected all recommendations calling for an end to severe human rights violations and impunity for perpetrators. The rejection rate is notably higher than in previous reviews—30% compared to 18% in 2018.

China also rejected all recommendations urging it to stop reprisals against individuals engaging with international human rights systems. This coincides with the ten-year anniversary of Cao Shunli's death in detention; she was a Chinese human rights defender detained en route to Geneva for China’s UPR in 2014.

Chinese officials claimed achievements based on their acceptance of many recommendations from the 2018 review. However, NGO research indicates that most accepted recommendations were weak or vague and thus unverifiable. Some even implicitly endorsed human rights violations.

Since the last UPR in 2018, civil society groups have documented acts of intimidation by Chinese diplomats against representatives inside UN premises. Intimidation continued around and during the January review as China attempted to silence critics despite legal obligations ensuring unhindered access to UN processes.

Beijing's responses included hostility towards UPR mechanisms and disparagement of UN experts' professionalism. It also declared an August 2022 OHCHR report on Xinjiang abuses "completely illegal and void."

The adoption of China's UPR should prompt HRC member states and other actors to press Beijing on independent UN monitors' recommendations. Specifically, follow-up actions are needed regarding abuses documented in Xinjiang by OHCHR reports from November 2022.

Member states should heed calls from over fifty UN experts since June 2020 for collective action ensuring China respects international obligations. This includes holding a special HRC session on China and establishing an impartial mechanism for monitoring China's human rights situation annually—a necessity given Beijing's ongoing repression.

Additionally, member states should urge Beijing to end intimidation tactics and cooperate with forthcoming treaty body reviews under conventions such as those against Torture (overdue five years) and Rights of Child.

Undersigned organizations include:

- Campaign for Uyghurs

- Chinese Human Rights Defenders (CHRD)

- CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation

- Hong Kong Democracy Council (HKDC)

- Hong Kong Watch (HKW)

- Human Rights in China (HRIC)

- Human Rights Watch (HRW)

- International Campaign for Tibet

- International Service for Human Rights (ISHR)

- International Tibet Network

- Reporters without Borders (RSF)