5th Meeting 63rd Session of Human Rights Council UN Web TV
Description
- ITEM 3: Interactive dialogue with the Independent Expert on the promotion of a democratic and equitable international order (Cont’d)
SPEAKER
United Nations Watch, Mr. Hillel Neuer
Full context:
Mr. President,
Thank you for allowing us to pose several questions to the Expert.
Mr. Katrougalos, your report mentions China 33 times.
At page 9, you say China is a “central actor” defending international order; Xi Jinping is the “new guardian of global rules for free trade;” and Chinese discourse “closely aligns” with the UN Charter and “peaceful co-existence.”
At page 10, you recite numerous Chinese initiatives, that contribute, and I quote, “to the enjoyment of alll human rights.”
Mr. Katrougalos, we ask: if your report is truly about human rights, then where are China’s victims?
Where are the million Uyghurs subjected to mass detention, forced labour, and religious persecution?
Where are the Tibetans whose culture, language and religion Beijing systematically crushes?
Where are Hong Kong’s imprisoned democracy activists, such as 78-year-old Jimmy Lai?
Where are the human rights lawyers, journalists, dissidents, and religious minorities jailed across China?
Where is Beijing’s mass censorship? Its surveillance state? Its threats against Taiwan?
Mr. Katrougalos, one fifth of humanity are denied free elections, free speech and basic political rights. Why does none of this appear in your account of China’s contribution to a “democratic and equitable” world order?
Now, you also chair the UN committee overseeing all human rights experts — and the UN disclosed that China chose to donate $100,000 to your mandate. Why did Beijing choose you? What exactly did its money finance? Did it support this report? Who funded your two trips to China, mentioned on Page 2?
Will you acknowledge that such funding creates a conflict? Will you commit today that all China’s money will be returned?
Source:
UN WEB TV, 5th Meeting – 63rd Session of Human Rights Council,https://webtv.un.org/en/asset/k1y/k1yybddvpr.
