Xinjiang: Ethnic Groups
(asked on 8th September 2022) - View Source
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports of crimes being committed against (1) Uyghurs, (2) Kazakhs, and (3) other Turkish Muslim minorities, in Xinjiang in China; and what discussions they have had with international partners about taking steps to investigate, and if necessary prosecute, any such crimes.
This question was answered on 29th September 2022
The report by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights provides new evidence of the extent of China's efforts to silence and repress Uyghurs and other minorities in Xinjiang. It includes a broad range of evidence, including first-hand accounts from victims. The UK has already led international efforts to pressure China to change its behaviour. We have imposed sanctions, led joint statements at the UN, taken action to tackle forced labour in supply chains, funded research to expose China's actions, and consistently raised China's human rights violations at the highest levels in Beijing. Given the seriousness of the report's findings, we are now supporting formal action at the current Human Rights Council (HRC) that will request a Council Debate on the situation in Xinjiang. If successful, this would be the first time we have succeeded in putting China on the Council's agenda. We have also raised the report's findings with the Chinese Embassy in London as well as senior officials in Beijing.
The report by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights provides new evidence of the extent of China's efforts to silence and repress Uyghurs and other minorities in Xinjiang. It includes a broad range of evidence, including first-hand accounts from victims. The UK has already led international efforts to pressure China to change its behaviour. We have imposed sanctions, led joint statements at the UN, taken action to tackle forced labour in supply chains, funded research to expose China's actions, and consistently raised China's human rights violations at the highest levels in Beijing. Given the seriousness of the report's findings, we are now supporting formal action at the current Human Rights Council (HRC) that will request a Council Debate on the situation in Xinjiang. If successful, this would be the first time we have succeeded in putting China on the Council's agenda. We have also raised the report's findings with the Chinese Embassy in London as well as senior officials in Beijing.