China receives praise from allies at UN review | Global News

China’s Human Rights Record Under Scrutiny at UN Review

This week, China faced its Universal Periodic Review (UPR) at the United Nations, where its human rights record was examined by member states. The event highlighted the divide between countries in the global south, which offered friendly questions to China, and Western democracies, which criticized its human rights abuses.

Rights campaigners had hoped the UPR would shed light on China’s violations since its last review in 2018, especially regarding the treatment of Uyghurs in Xinjiang. However, the review was criticized as largely farcical, with China reportedly influencing non-Western countries to praise its efforts in poverty alleviation.

Western countries and some democracies raised concerns about China’s abuses in Hong Kong, Tibet, and Xinjiang. Recommendations were made to end arbitrary detention and forced disappearances, with calls to stop extralegal pre-trial detention practices.

Despite some developing countries urging China to allow UN experts to visit freely, the UPR lacks enforcement mechanisms. This allows China to use the platform to promote a narrative of the West bullying them, while portraying themselves as righteous.

The UPR serves as a forum for countries to address human rights issues, but without teeth for enforcement, China continues to evade accountability. The divide in responses from different regions underscores the complexities of addressing human rights on a global scale.