The delegation of the European Union (EU) in China this Saturday, on the occasion of International Human Rights Day, published a statement underlining that “civil and political rights are not guaranteed” in this Asian country.
In the statement, he stressed that while China has made “remarkable efforts” in various areas, such as poverty alleviation or access to health care and education, in terms of civil and political rights, in some cases these are “deliberately and systematically violated”. “.
It also mentions the discord report published last September by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on alleged human rights violations against the Uyghur Muslim minority in the northwestern region of Xinjiang.
The delegation emphasizes the need for “justice and accountability” as violations “could constitute international crimes” in Xinjiang.
In the communiqué, the EU reaffirms its concern about the existence of an “extensive network of political re-education camps” and denounces “arbitrary mass arrests” leading to restrictions on the exercise of fundamental freedoms.
It is also concerned about the use of forced labour, torture, abortion and forced sterilization as part of contraceptive policies, as confirmed by the UN report.
In the statement, the EU urges China to “comply with its obligations under national and international law” and to allow experts, journalists and diplomats “unrestricted and uncontrolled access” to Xinjiang, Tibet and other regions of the country .
It also notes that China’s rate of death sentences and executions “far exceeds all other countries combined” and relates to non-violent crimes, and urges China to “further increase the number of crimes punishable by death”. reduce” as an ineffective punishment.
“Freedom of expression and access to information are increasingly suppressed in China through censorship, intimidation and surveillance of journalists and media workers,” the press freedom statement denounced.
Chinese media workers face many obstacles because they “don’t tell China’s story well” but because they tell it truthfully.
With regard to women’s rights and the LGTBI community, they say that while “progress has been made towards equality”, gender-based violence still occurs.
Finally, the EU reiterates its concern about the repressive use of the National Security Act in Hong Kong, the renewed use of the Sedition Act in Hong Kong and the radical changes in the electoral system in the former British colony.
Source: DN
