A Debate On The Situation In Xinjiang Blocked At The U.N. Human Rights Council

On October 6, 2022, the U.N. Human Rights Council, consisting of 47 member states, rejected a draft decision to accommodate a debate on the situation in Xinjiang, China. The failed draft decision was supported by 17 States and opposed by 19. Eleven States abstained. The failed draft decision comes weeks after the High Commissioner for Human Rights published her report on the situation of human rights in Xinjiang, China, concluding that “serious human rights violations” against the Uyghur and other predominantly Muslim communities have been committed in Xinjiang. The report added that the atrocities may amount to international crimes, and in particular, crimes against humanity.

The draft decision was filed by the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Iceland, Denmark, Australia, and Lithuania. Introducing the draft decision, Ambassador Michèle Taylor stated that “just over a month ago, the High Commissioner for Human Rights published an assessment of the human rights situation in Xinjiang. The evidence in this independent assessment was compiled over a three-year period. It relied extensively on China’s own records. It corroborates several concerns raised by special procedures, independent media, academic researchers, and, most importantly, by Uyghurs themselves.” Ambassador Taylor emphasized the need to accommodate a debate on the report and the situation in Xinjiang. Sixteen other countries agreed with this position.

However, China and several other States strongly objected. China’s Ambassador Chen Xu responded, among others, that “the draft decision is not pro-human rights, but for political manipulation. The Xinjiang-related issues are by no means human rights issues. They are about counter-terrorism, deradicalization and anti-separatism. (…) the U.S. and some other countries have fabricated and spread numerous lies and rumors, in an attempt to smear China, undermine Xinjiang’s stability and contain China’s development. It is a typical example of political manipulation and the gravest violation of the human rights of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang.” Among those States supporting China’s position were Eritrea, Pakistan, Sudan, and Cameroon. Among those abstaining were Brazil, Gambia, India, and Ukraine.

It is unlikely that the conversation on the issue stops here. Indeed, U.K.’s Ambassador Simon Manley assured that “today’s vote sent a clear message to China: that a significant number of countries will not be silenced when it comes to egregious human rights violations – no matter where and by whom they are committed. We will continue to work with our partners to hold the Chinese authorities to account and to shine a spotlight on China’s human rights violations.” It is not clear what is planned at this stage. However, the issue could be further taken before the U.N. General Assembly where the issue could be considered and decided by 193 member states.

The evidence of the atrocities in Xinjiang cannot be ignored by the United Nations anymore, and not without the United Nations losing its credibility on human rights. The next weeks will tell whether there is any hope of ensuring change for the Uyghurs and other Turkic minorities in Xinjiang. However, today was a dark day for victims and survivors of the atrocities, and for the credibility of the United Nations.