Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to support the proposal by UN independent experts on 26 June for (1) a UN Human Rights Council special session on China, and (2) the appointment of a dedicated UN special rapporteur on human rights in China.

The UK is committed to working with international partners at the UN to raise our serious concerns about Human Rights in China. We have played a leading role at the Human Rights Council, and in the UN Third Committee to register the breadth and depth of international concern. On 30 June, the UK read out a formal statement on behalf of 28 countries at the 44th session of the UN Human Rights Council highlighting arbitrary detention, widespread surveillance and restrictions, particularly those targeting Uyghurs and other minorities, and urging China to allow the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights meaningful access to Xinjiang. On 29 October 2019 the UK read out a statement on Xinjiang on behalf of 23 countries at the UN Third Committee in New York. We will continue to seek opportunities in relevant UN fora to maximise pressure on China to comply with international human rights norms.