Friday, 29 Mar 2024

Lawyer criticises UN report’s failure to call Uyghur oppression ‘genocide’

Lawyer criticises UN report’s failure to call Uyghur oppression ‘genocide’


Lawyer criticises UN report’s failure to call Uyghur oppression ‘genocide’

The UN's failure to mention the word genocide in its report alleging serious human rights violations by China against Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang province is an "astonishing" lapse, according to a leading British human rights lawyer.

The 45-page report from the outgoing UN human rights commissioner, Michelle Bachelet, landed minutes before her term ended on Wednesday, outlining allegations of torture, including forced medical procedures, as well as sexual violence against Uyghur Muslims.

The report by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), concluded the "arbitrary and discriminatory" detention of Uyghur and other predominantly Muslim groups "may constitute international crimes, in particular crimes against humanity," - but does not mention genocide.

Sir Geoffrey Nice QC, formerly a lead prosecutor at the international criminal tribunal for the former Yugoslavia and chair for the UK-based Uyghur Tribunal, described the report as "better than nothing, or a very small step forward. But no more than that."

In 2021, the independent and unofficial UK-based Uyghur Tribunal led by Nice found Uyghur people living in Xinjiang province have been subjected to crimes against humanity directed by the Chinese state that amount to an act of genocide.

"This report could be dangerous in the long run if it allows countries that would prefer not to act in respect of People Republic of China human rights abuses to say something like 'while things in Xinjiang are less than ideal, they have not reached a level requiring international intervention'," said Nice.

"Those states could then do nothing, expressing hope or even belief that the PRC would have taken note of the report and would start acting with more regard to human rights."

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