US asks UN to debate China's crimes against humanity

Uighur activists protest China’s human rights violations, during a protest in Lafayette Park, across the street from the White House in Washington, DC, USA, of July . | Photo: EFE/EPA/SHAWN THEW

The United States requested this Monday (19) a debate at the UN Human Rights Council on the situation in the Chinese region of Xinjiang, where Beijing is accused of crimes against humanity, reported by the United Nations in publication of 21 of August.

According to the AFP agency, which had access to the document, the project proposes discussion at 31 th session of the Council, which will take place in the first quarter of next year. The text is also signed by the United Kingdom, Canada, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Iceland and Norway. The resolution will be voted on by the 40 Board members between October 6th and 7th.

China is accused by Western countries and advocacy organizations of having detained in Xinjiang more than one million Uighurs and other members of Muslim minorities in concentration camps.

The report noted that “allegations of patterns of torture or ill-treatment, including forced medical treatment and adverse conditions of detention, are credible, as are allegations of individual incidents of sexual and gender-based violence.”

The Chinese, in turn , deny the accusations and speak of “UN complicity with the United States and the West”.

“We are not afraid,” Xu Guixian, communications director for Xinjiang, said last week. He further warned that his country “will take the necessary countermeasures”.