Rights chief expresses concern over alleged detention, forced labour of Muslim Uyghurs
Anjali Sharma
GG News Bureau
UNITED NATIONS, 27th May. UN human rights official Michelle Bachelet on Wednesday met with the Chinese President Xi Jinping and other senior officials in Beijing and had a valuable opportunity” to highlight rights issues and concerns, according to UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric in New York.
This is the first such visit by a UN rights chief since 2005 who is on three days official mission to China.
Ms. Bachelet tweeted that she had been able to “discuss directly” important issues via videolink with the country’s premier, without providing further information about her talking points, Office of the human rights in Geneva stated
Ms. Bachelet said in comments shared by her Office, OHCHR “I have been committed to undertaking this visit, the first visit by a UN Human Rights High Commissioner to China in 17 years, because for me, it is a priority to engage with the Government of China directly…on human rights issues, domestic, regional and global,”.
She added: “For development, peace and security to be sustainable – locally and across borders human rights have to be at the core.”
Ms. Bachelet stressed that China had “a crucial role to play within multilateral institutions in confronting many of the challenges facing the world currently”, comments echoed in an address to students at Guangzhou University in opening remarks to President Xi.
She stressed that these challenges included “threats to international peace and security, instability in the global economic system, inequality, climate change and more”,
She added that she looked forward “to deepening our discussions on these and other issues”.
Rights chief also offered China technical assistance to “accompany efforts to strengthen the promotion and protection of human rights, justice and the rule of law for all without exception”.
According to media reports, as Ms. Bachelet prepared to visit the western Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region on Wednesday, where UN-appointed independent rights experts have raised serious concerns about the alleged detention and forced labour of Muslim Uyghurs.
China has strongly denied the allegations over its treatment of the Uyghur minority, hundreds of thousands of whom who have been reportedly held in so-called re-education” facilities or forcibly transferred to factories in Xinjiang or other Chinese provinces.
UN rights chief also delivered a lecture to students at Guangzhou University.
Ms. Bachelet said “At a time of “uncertainty and unpredictability”, a “human rights education is so crucial” for everyone.
She continued saying that it offered the opportunity to shape “our own social, economic, cultural and political reality”, added that it provided “concrete solutions to the challenges people face”.
Ms. Bachelet noted despite numerous global threats, from COVID-19 to climate change, conflict and growing inequalities, “the tremendous power of youth” was one of several “beacons of hope”.
“A fundamental ingredient for youth to be able to play that role is an open civic space where they can voice their opinions and seek change,” Ms. Bachelet said.
She added that she had been inspired by youth activist movements who had challenged “discrimination, injustice and inequalities”.
Ms. Bachelet reiterated “Young people are influencing debates of national and international importance and prompting social change – including by demanding a seat at the table and holding governments and businesses to account for their inaction.”
She echoed Secretary General call and Our Common Agenda blueprint for multilateral action, which underlined how young people must have the opportunity to take part in discussions that affect them,
Ms. Bachelet highlighted the need for “an open civic space where they can voice their opinions and seek change”.
On the topic of the inalienable right to participate in open dialogue, she added: “When various sectors of society are brought into discussions, are included in debate, it allows for a deeper understanding of the issues. With different voices at the table, States can better identify gaps in laws and policies, to make sure they are more just.”
Ms. Bachelet was received by Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu, her office said in a press release.
She told journalists that she expected to discuss “some very important and sensitive issues” over the course of her visit, to help to “build confidence”.
Rights chief will hold a press conference at the end of her six-day mission, the office concluded
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