Hong Kong Archives - UN Watch https://unwatch.org/tag/hong-kong/ Monitoring the UN Promoting Human Rights Thu, 18 Jan 2024 20:13:15 +0000 en-US hourly 1 Lawmakers & rights activists urge UNHRC’s Nazhat Khan to call urgent session on Hong Kong https://unwatch.org/lawmakers-rights-activists-urge-unhrcs-nazhat-khan-to-call-urgent-session-on-hong-kong/ Thu, 30 Dec 2021 14:04:47 +0000 https://unwatch.org/?p=552607 Photo: Stand News acting Chief Editor Patrick Lam is escorted by police as they leave after the police searched his office in Hong Kong [Tyrone Siu/Reuters] GENEVA, December 30, 2021 — An international coalition of 70 lawmakers, human rights activists and representatives of UN-accredited non-governmental organizations today urged the chair of the UN’s top human […]

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GENEVA, December 30, 2021 — An international coalition of 70 lawmakers, human rights activists and representatives of UN-accredited non-governmental organizations today urged the chair of the UN’s top human rights body to convene a special session on “the grave and deteriorating situation of human rights in Hong Kong,” in wake of the latest arrests of independent journalists. (See full text of appeal below.)

The appeal called on Nazhat Shameem Khan, president of the 47-nation United Nations Human Rights Council,  “to condemn the government of China for the relentless persecution of journalists, human rights activists and dissenting voices in Hong Kong,” and to convene an urgent session on human rights in Hong Kong.

Under UN procedures, Khan, the ambassador of Fiji, would only need to obtain support from 15 additional council members to convene a session in Geneva tomorrow, on Friday, December 31, 2021.

“I know it’s the holidays, but when one Hong Kong journalist after another is being taken away, arrested, charged and imprisoned, democracy as we know it is under threat, and I expect delegates to put their duties and human rights commitments first,” said Hillel Neuer, executive director of UN Watch, a non-governmental Geneva-based human rights group, and one of the signatories.

The appeal to UNHRC president Khan also urges her “to ensure adequate protection from intimidation or reprisals for all individuals from Hong Kong or mainland China who seek to cooperate or have cooperated with the United Nations, its representatives and mechanisms in the field of human rights.”

The global coalition supporting today’s appeal for UN action includes U.S. Congressman Chris Smith, Co-chair of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission, and several members of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China including New Zealand MP Louisa Wall, Canada’s Senator Leo Housakos, MP Garnett Genuis and former justice minister Irwin Cotler, as well as human rights activists, dissidents, former political prisoners and humanitarian organizations from Africa, Asia, Europe and North America. (See list below)

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JOINT APPEAL FOR SPECIAL SESSION ON THE GRAVE SITUATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN HONG KONG

 

Nazhat Shameem Khan
President, Human Rights Council
Palais Wilson
52 Rue des Pâquis
CH-1201 Geneva
Switzerland

30 December 2021

Dear President Khan,

We, an international coalition of lawmakers, human rights activists, former political prisoners and representatives of UN-accredited non-governmental organizations, urge you as President of the United Nations Human Rights Council to call for an urgent Special Session into the grave and deteriorating situation of human rights in Hong Kong.

Yesterday, Hong Kong human rights activist Denise Ho and six other individuals associated with the pro-democracy media outlet Stand News were arrested by the city’s national security police for “conspiracy to publish seditious material.”

Some 200 police officers raided the Stand News offices and seized journalistic materials, raising further concerns about diminishing press freedoms following the imposition of a sweeping National Security Law on the city in 2020. As a result, Stand News has dismissed all its staff and shut down its operations.

As you may know, Denise Ho is a pop star who became an international face of Hong Hong’s pro-democracy movement when she famously addressed the Human Rights Council in July 2019. In her UN testimony, covered live worldwide, she urged your agency to “protect the people of Hong Kong” and remove China from the council. She argued that China had reneged on the commitments it made when it took control of Hong Kong in 1997, echoing the concerns of millions of Hong Kongers protesting at the time.

During Ms. Ho’s UN address, Chinese diplomats repeatedly interrupted, accusing her of violating the UN constitution and of “baselessly” attacking Hong Kong’s “one country, two systems” model of governance.

According to news reports, Hong Kong national security police spent more than two hours at Ms. Ho’s home during their raid yesterday in which they seized phones and computers, as well as Ms. Ho’s identification card and passport. She was arrested and taken to a police station. Today, Ms. Ho was released on police bail pending further investigations.

There are grounds to believe that the arrest of Ms. Ho by Beijing-controlled Hong Kong authorities constitutes a form of illegal reprisal for her United Nations testimony and other human rights advocacy.

Also released today on police bail pending further investigations were former democratic legislator and barrister Margaret Ng, Chow Tat-chi and Christine Fang. However, a Hong Kong court denied bail applications for former Stand News chief editor Chung Pui-kuen and acting chief editor Patrick Lam. In addition, Chung’s wife, Chan Pui-man, formerly a senior editor with the pro-democracy Apple Daily newspaper, was re-arrested in prison, where she is already being held on different charges.

Excellency, we urge you to condemn the government of China for the relentless persecution of journalists, human rights activists and dissenting voices in Hong Kong, and to call for the convening of a Special Session to establish a Commission of Inquiry into the grave and deteriorating situation of human rights in Hong Kong.

We further urge you to ensure adequate protection from intimidation or reprisals for all individuals from Hong Kong or mainland China who seek to cooperate or have cooperated with the United Nations, its representatives and mechanisms in the field of human rights.

Sincerely,

Leo Housakos, Member of the Senate, Canada

Garnett Genuis, Member of Parliament, Canada

Christopher H. Smith, Member of Congress, United States

Louisa Wall, Member of Parliament, New Zealand

Thanh Hai Ngo, Member of the Senate, Canada

Hon. Irwin Cotler, Chair Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights, former Minister of Justice & Attorney General, Canada

Ambassador Diego Arria, former President of the United Nations Security Council, Venezuela

Dr. Yang Jianli, former political prisoner in China & President of Initiatives for China, United States

Kylie Moore-Gilbert, former political prisoner in Iran, Australia

Glacier Kwong, human rights activist, Hong Kong

Jewher Ilham, Uyghur activist, United States

Kaveh Shahrooz, human rights activist, Canada

Duy Hoang, Viet Tan spokesperson, Vietnam

Jihyun Park, North Korean human rights activist, United Kingdom

Berta Valle, activist & wife of imprisoned activist Félix Maradiaga, Nicaragua

Benedict Rogers, CEO of Hong Kong Watch, United Kingdom

Finn Lau, Founder of Stand with Hong Kong, United Kingdom

Carmen Lau, human rights activist, Hong Kong

Ray Wong, human rights activist, Hong Kong

Joey Siu, human rights activist, Hong Kong

Greg Scarlatoiu, human rights activist, United States

Nathan Law, human rights activist, Hong Kong

Hillel Neuer, United Nations Watch, Switzerland

Tsuneko Kakiuchi, Japanese Association for the Right to Freedom of Speech, Japan

Thierry Valle, Coordination des Associations et des Particuliers pour la Liberté de Conscience, France

Heidi Basch-Harod, Women’s Voices Now, United States

Lucica Humenuc, Romanian Independent Society for Human Rights, Romania

Sadikh Niass, La Rencontre Africaine pour la Défense des Droits de l’Homme, Senegal

Yves Laurin, Comité Français pour l’Afrique du Sud, France

Anye Hillary Fru, Tort for Torture Victims Centre, Cameroon

Oluronke Olohigbe Ikoroh, Society to Heighten Awareness of Women and Children Abuse, Nigeria

Zia Ur Rehman, Awaz Centre for Development Sciences, Pakistan

Mohammad Safi Ul Aalm, Youth Foundation of Bangladesh, Bangladesh

Kelechukwu Okezie, Neighbourhood Environment Watch Foundation, Nigeria

Sethi Bnasal, The Council of Technical Education & Training, India

Mahendranath Busgopaul, Halley Movement for Social and Community Development, Mauritius

Olatunji Abayomi Tunji, Entrepreneurship Development and Support Initiative, Nigeria

Ngan Tonye François Simon Pierre, Association des Ressortissants et Amis d’Eseka, Cameroon

Didier Kiyanga, Coup de Pouce, Democratic Republic of the Congo

Brunhilde Schram, CSR Dialogforums, Austria

Sajad Ahmed, Society for Human Advancement and Disadvantaged Empowerment, Pakistan

Richard Ntakirutimana, African Initiative for Mankind Progress Organization, Rwanda

Rudi Bester, Memory Trees Corporation, United States

Guy Aurelien Biantsissila, Genesis Congo, Congo

Allan Kalish, Global Distribution Advocates, United States

Neil Belanger, British Columbia Aboriginal Network on Disability Society, Canada

Jideofor Umeh, Ugonma Foundation, Nigeria

Souad Talsi, Al-Hasaniya Moroccan Women’s Centre, United Kingdom

Morenike Omaiboje, Women’s Consortium of Nigeria, Nigeria

Jane E. Durgom-Powers, Families of the Missing, United States

Alison Judd, World Federation of Methodist and Uniting Church Women, United Kingdom

Yoro Sow, Association Malienne de Savoir Construire, France

Aisha Ahmed, Murna Foundation, Nigeria

Brian Bond, Edmund Rice International, Switzerland

Ashok Yende, Global Vision India Foundation, India

Aminu Zakari, Centre for Climate Change and Environmental Study, Nigeria

Starry Krueger, Rural Development Leadership Network, United States

Momo Allison Bianda, National Old Folks of Liberia, Liberia

René Lachapelle, Groupe d’Économie Solidaire du Québec, Canada

Uwem Robert Otu, African Youth Movement, Nigeria

Esther Omam, Reach Out, Cameroon

Doua Guehi Michel, SOS Éducation, Côte d’Ivoire

Shahzada Ibrahim, Northern Citizen Community Board, Pakistan

A A Mustafa, Barzani Charity Foundation, Iraq

Augustine Onwuamaegbu, Persons with Disability Initiative, Nigeria

Robert Kibaya, Kikandwa Rural Communities Development Organization, Uganda

Ilunga Wa Ilunga Alain, Bureau Pour la Croissance Intégrale et la Dignité de l’Enfant, Democratic Republic of the Congo

Samson Adefioye, National Council of Child Rights Advocates, Nigeria

Radjou Georges, Business Innovation Research Development, France

Walid Maalouf, The Lebanese American Resistance Partnership, United States

J. Kofa Torbor, Liberians United to Expose Hidden Weapons, Liberia

Anandaraj Karunakaran, Child Care Consortium, India

Artemis Westenberg, Netherlands Association of Women’s Interests, Women’s Work and Equal Citizenship, Netherlands

Grace Dafiel, Touch a Heart Social and Economic Rights Initiative, Nigeria

Jean Kabongo K., Solidarité Agissante pour le Développement Familial, Democratic Republic of the Congo

Emmanuel Saint Louis, Concile Mondial de Congres Diplomatiques des Aumoniers pour la Paix Universelle des Droits Humains et Juridiques, France

Tom Wilkens, The World Habitat Foundation, United States

TaeHoon Kim and Bada Nam, People for Successful Corean Reunification, Republic of Korea

Yogesh Sharma, Human Rights Sanrakshan Sansthaa, India

Mourad Lafkihen, Forum Mediteraneen pour la Promotion des Droit du Citoyen, Morocco

Tiekam Djisakou Pierre, Human Rights National Circle, Cameroon

Abul Kashem Sheikh, Kathak Academy, Bangladesh

Hassan Mashori, Fundamental Human Rights & Rural Development Association, Pakistan

Arnold Groh, Structural Analysis of Cultural Systems, Germany

Télesphore Balonga, Le Centre d’Accueil et de Volontariat pour Orphelins Abandonnés et Handicapés, Cameroon

Samson Ning Kumetah, Buddies Association of Volunteers for Orphans, Disabled and Abandoned Children, Cameroon

Jean Paul Ngoma, Ngoma Club, Democratic Republic of the Congo

Richa Tiku, Kalyani, India

Yvonne Singleton Davis, Sister to Sister One in the Spirit, United States

George Abang Tawoh, Association for the Protection of Women’s and Children’s Rights, United States

BRR Davy Koller, Österreichischer Bundesverband – Österreichische Lebens – und Rettungs – Gesellschaft, Austria

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]]> UNHRC Chair Nazhat Khan Must Condemn Arrest of Hong Kong Activist Denise Ho, Rights Groups Urge https://unwatch.org/unhrc-chair-nazhat-khan-must-condemn-arrest-of-hong-kong-activist-denise-ho-rights-groups-urge/ Wed, 29 Dec 2021 10:46:02 +0000 https://unwatch.org/?p=552593 GENEVA, December 28, 2021 — UN Human Rights Council president Nazhat Shameem Khan should condemn today’s arrest of Hong Kong singer and pro-democracy activist Denise Ho, and convene an urgent session of the 47-nation body, said human rights groups in an appeal. “Denise Ho famously addressed the Human Rights Council about Beijing’s repression in Hong Kong, where she was […]

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]]> GENEVA, December 28, 2021 — UN Human Rights Council president Nazhat Shameem Khan should condemn today’s arrest of Hong Kong singer and pro-democracy activist Denise Ho, and convene an urgent session of the 47-nation body, said human rights groups in an appeal.

“Denise Ho famously addressed the Human Rights Council about Beijing’s repression in Hong Kong, where she was repeatedly interrupted by China, and she has been an outspoken advocate for democracy. Now they are retaliating against her. Council president Khan has a moral duty to speak out and demand Ho’s immediate release,” said Hillel Neuer, executive director of the independent non-governmental human rights group UN Watch, the Geneva-based group which, together with Human Rights Foundation, invited the activist to testify in July 2019.

In a statement released this morning, the Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy, a cross-regional coalition of 25 human rights groups, also called on the UNHRC’s Khan to act: “Hong Kong police today arrested singer and pro-democracy activist Denise Ho, who addressed our 2020 Geneva Summit for Human Rights. We appeal to UNHRC President Nazhat Khan to condemn this illegal retaliation — and to convene an urgent session.”

Interview with Human Rights Council President Nazhat Shameem Khan | الأمم المتحدة

UNHRC president Khan has never once criticized or investigated China. Khan refused to to launch a commission of inquiry into China’s crimes against humanity against its Uyghur population, despite an international appeal sent to her by 68 lawmakers including Senator Bob Menendez, chair of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, German MEP Reinhard Bütikofer, chair of the European Parliament’s China delegation, Sir Iain Duncan Smith MP, former leader of the the UK Conservative Party, and Australian Labor Senator Kimberley Kitching.

“Council president Khan’s term ends Friday, and so she has a chance now to do the right thing,” said Neuer. “We urge her to take action at the United Nations to convene an urgent meeting and to pressure China to immediately free Denise Ho.”

Raid and Arrest of Denise Ho

Ho was taken from her home and arrested today in a police raid, the first time that a popstar of global renown has been detained for a political crime after Beijing imposed a national security law on Hong Kong 18 months ago.

“Police National Security Department conducted a search against an online media company in Kwun Tong with a warrant issued under Schedule 1 of the Implementation Rules for Article 43 of the Law of the People’s Republic of China on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, authorizing Police to search and seize relevant journalistic materials. Over 200 uniformed and plainclothes police officers have been deployed during the operation,” said the Hong Kong government in a press statement on Wednesday morning.

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]]> Interview with Human Rights Council President Nazhat Shameem Khan | الأمم المتحدة CNN reports on Geneva Summit campaign to free Jimmy Lai https://unwatch.org/cnn-reports-on-geneva-summit-campaign-to-free-jimmy-lai/ Sat, 11 Dec 2021 23:55:56 +0000 https://unwatch.org/?p=552537 Great: CNN's Christiane Amanpour reports on our Geneva Summit campaign for jailed Hong Kong newspaper owner Jimmy Lai—who was just convicted for backing a vigil last year for victims of China's Tiananmen Square Massacre. Lawmakers & human rights activists worldwide joined us:⬇️ https://t.co/KqL5mt8Y8b pic.twitter.com/EDL53Jjj4q — Hillel Neuer (@HillelNeuer) December 11, 2021 CNN’s Christiane Amanpour reported […]

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Great: CNN's Christiane Amanpour reports on our Geneva Summit campaign for jailed Hong Kong newspaper owner Jimmy Lai—who was just convicted for backing a vigil last year for victims of China's Tiananmen Square Massacre.

Lawmakers & human rights activists worldwide joined us:⬇️ https://t.co/KqL5mt8Y8b pic.twitter.com/EDL53Jjj4q

— Hillel Neuer (@HillelNeuer) December 11, 2021

CNN’s Christiane Amanpour reported on the campaign to free jailed Hong Kong newspaper owner Jimmy Lai that was organized last week by UN Watch’s Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy, with the participation of lawmakers and human rights activists worldwide.

Lai, who was convicted on Thursday for backing a vigil last year for victims of China’s Tiananmen Square Massacre, has been languishing in prison for running a newspaper in Hong Kong that dared to criticize the Chinese regime.

The Geneva Summit campaign saw dozens of parliamentarians and human rights defenders to send a #LettertoLai on his birthday, to show the courageous dissident that he is not forgotten—and to give him strength.

 

 

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]]> China’s Abuses & the Beijing 2022 Olympics Corporate Sponsors https://unwatch.org/chinas-abuses-the-beijing-2022-olympics-corporate-sponsors/ Tue, 20 Jul 2021 11:34:33 +0000 https://unwatch.org/?p=550328 Testimony before the UN Human Rights Council’s 47th Session delivered by UN Watch Executive Director Hillel Neuer, July 2021. UNHRC CHAIR: We shall now begin the quadrennial panel discussion on “Promoting human rights through sports and the Olympic ideal.” CHINA: The 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics and Paralympics are great events of the international community. The […]

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Testimony before the UN Human Rights Council’s 47th Session delivered by UN Watch Executive Director Hillel Neuer, July 2021.

UNHRC CHAIR: We shall now begin the quadrennial panel discussion on “Promoting human rights through sports and the Olympic ideal.”

CHINA: The 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics and Paralympics are great events of the international community. The Olympic spirit transcends national boundaries and is deeply rooted in peoples’ hearts. It will promote countries to strengthen solidarity and meet global challenges together.

VENEZUELA: We appreciate China’s efforts to host the Olympics in Beijing.

RUSSIA: Unfortunately, recently there have been more and more attempts to instrumentalize sport to bring pressure in international politics. On the bassis of alleged human rights violations, certain countries are calling for boycotts of international sporting forums, using the fight against corruption and doping for their own geopolitical ends. We once more emphasize the unacceptability of politicizing sport and interfering in the activities of international sporting organizations.

UN WATCH’S HILLEL NEUER: Madam President, we welcome this panel discussion on promoting human rights through sport and the Olympic ideal.

In Resolution 43/18, this Council reaffirmed the potential of leveraging sport and the Olympic ideal for promoting human rights for young people.

The resolution recalled the possibilities of using sport and the Olympic ideal to promote human rights for all.

The resolution encouraged States and national, regional and international sports organizations

to enhance human rights awareness and education.

Madam President, as you know, many human rights groups are seriously concerned about how all of these goals can be achieved at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics.

Human rights activists are protesting China’s hosting of the games. They have urged a diplomatic or straight-up boycott to call attention to Chinese abuses against Uighurs, Tibetans and residents of Hong Kong, including abuses against children.

Will heads of state to go to China, in light of a genocide that is ongoing against the Uighurs, while they’re sitting there in their seats? What moral authority do they have to speak about human rights any place in the world, clapping for the Chinese government as they commit genocide?

Many today in corporate America have declared themselves as supporters of human rights. Yet Bridgestone, Intel, Visa, Airbnb, Coca-Cola, Omega, Panasonic, P&G, Samsung, Toyota will all be represented in Beijing as “Olympic Partners,” the highest level of sponsorship available. Mars-Wrigley will be there, too, handing out Snickers, “the official chocolate of the 2022 Winter Olympics.”

Will corporate sponsors of the games look the other way on China’s gross abuses out of concern for their bottom line?

I thank you.

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]]> China's Abuses & the Beijing 2022 Olympics Corporate Sponsors - UN Watch https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nKXw8Ktcnxk Testimony before the UN Human Rights Council’s 47th Session delivered by UN Watch Executive Director Hillel Hong Kong,Post,Tibet,UN Human Rights Council (HRC),Video,Xinjiang YouTube player Dissidents Urge Countries to Oppose Election of Abusers to UN’s Top Human Rights Body https://unwatch.org/dissidents-urge-countries-to-oppose-election-of-abusers-to-uns-top-human-rights-body/ Fri, 09 Oct 2020 16:56:42 +0000 https://unwatch.org/?p=547529 UN feared likely to elect China, Cuba, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan GENEVA, October 9, 2020 – Human rights dissidents who have been persecuted for their activism by China, Russia, Cuba and Pakistan joined today in calling on all UN member states to oppose those countries’ bids for election to the 47-nation UN Human Rights Council […]

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GENEVA, October 9, 2020 – Human rights dissidents who have been persecuted for their activism by China, Russia, Cuba and Pakistan joined today in calling on all UN member states to oppose those countries’ bids for election to the 47-nation UN Human Rights Council on Tuesday.

The human rights activists were hosted for an international press conference today by UN Watch, an independent non-governmental human rights group based in Geneva.

Click below for their remarks:
• On China: Yang Jianli, President of Initiatives for China, former political prisoner
• On Cuba: Rosa Maria Paya, Cuban human rights activist, daughter of late dissident Oswaldo Paya
• On Russia: Vladimir Kara-Murza, Russian democracy activist and vice president of the Free Russia Foundation
• On Pakistan: Taha Siddiqui, Award-winning Pakistani journalist attacked for criticizing the military

Background: the UNHRC Election to be Held on October 13, 2020

On Tuesday, October 13, the UN will elect 15 nations to its highest human rights body.

Earlier this week, a coalition of non-governmental human rights groups from Europe, the U.S. and Canada called on UN member states to oppose the election of China, Cuba, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Uzbekistan, which were deemed “unqualified” due to their human rights records as well as their voting records on UN resolutions concerning human rights.

Abuses by those candidates were detailed in a 30-page joint NGO report published by UN Watch, Human Rights Foundation and the Raoul Wallenberg Center for Human Rights, which is being circulated to UN diplomats.

“Electing these dictatorships as UN judges on human rights is like making a gang of arsonists into the fire brigade,” said Hillel Neuer, executive director of UN Watch.

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As shown in the report, Cuba and Russia have no competition in their regional groups. While technically they still must obtain 97 positive votes, in practice their election is virtually certain.

The Asian regional group is the only one being contested, with five candidates vying for four available seats. “Yet because China, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia are so powerful at the United Nations, it’s almost certain they will be elected as well,” said Neuer.

“It’s logically absurd and morally obscene that the UN is about to elect to its top human rights body a regime that herded 1 million Uighurs into camps, arrested, crushed and disappeared those who tried to sound the alarm about the coronavirus, and suffocated freedom in Hong Kong,” said Neuer.

“Saudi Arabia carried out a record 184 executions in 2019. Russia assassinates journalists and poisons dissidents. Cuba is a police state,” said Neuer.

UN Watch has filed formal protests at the United Nations, published last week as official UN documents, against the election of China, Cuba, Pakistan, Russia, and Saudi Arabia.

Despite the lack of competition in almost every regional group, Neuer emphasized that there is a myth among UN diplomats that they are obliged to vote for all candidates on a clean slate. “Yet as made clear in our report, voting nations can and should refrain from electing rights abusers to the UN’s highest human rights body. We need to hear the EU’s high commissioner Josep Borrell and member states lead the call to oppose the worst abusers. So far, they have been silent.”

The report also listed Bolivia, Cote d’Ivoire, Nepal, Malawi, Mexico, Senegal and Ukraine as having “questionable” credentials, due to problematic human rights and UN voting records that should be improved.

“Sadly, all signs are that the UN will disregard its own rules and principles next Tuesday by rubber-stamping the election of China, Russia, Cuba, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia — even though these regimes systematically violate the human rights of their own citizens,” said Neuer, “and consistently frustrate UN initiatives to protect the human rights of others.”

UN Watch Call to Scrap Elections if Criteria Ignored

UN Watch is proposing a major reform to the election system. “If our own democracies continue to disregard the election criteria by voting for abusers,” said Neuer, “then we should just scrap elections altogether, and make every country a member, as is the case in the General Assembly’s human rights committee. Non-democracies could no longer hold up their UNHRC election as a shield of international legitimacy to cover up the abuses of their regime.”

“Regrettably,” said Neuer, “the EU has not said a word about hypocritical candidacies that only undermine the credibility and effectiveness of the UN human rights system. By turning a blind eye as human rights violators easily join and subvert the council, leading democracies will be complicit in the world body’s moral decline.”

“It will be an insult to their political prisoners and many other victims — and a defeat for the global cause of human rights — if the UN helps gross abusers act as champions and global judges of human rights. When the UN’s highest human rights body becomes a case of the foxes guarding the henhouse, the world’s victims suffer,” said Neuer.

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]]> Dissidents Urge Countries to Oppose Election of Abusers to UN's Top Human Rights Body - UN Watch Human rights dissidents call on all UN member states to oppose China, Russia, Cuba and Pakistan bids for election to UN Human Rights Council. Hong Kong,Post,Tibet,UN Human Rights Council (HRC),Video,Xinjiang,UN Human Rights Council YouTube player YouTube player YouTube player YouTube player YouTube player Yang Jianli Opposes China’s Election to the UNHRC https://unwatch.org/yang-jianli-opposes-chinas-election-to-the-unhrc/ Fri, 09 Oct 2020 15:47:44 +0000 https://unwatch.org/?p=547509 Remarks of Yang Jianli at UN Watch Press Conference, October 9, 2020 Speaking at UN Watch’s press conference today concerning next week’s elections to the 47-nation U.N. Human Rights Council, Chinese rights activist Yang Jianli urged countries not to elect China. See his remarks below. UN Watch published a detailed report on the elections which […]

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]]> Remarks of Yang Jianli at UN Watch Press Conference, October 9, 2020

Speaking at UN Watch’s press conference today concerning next week’s elections to the 47-nation U.N. Human Rights Council, Chinese rights activist Yang Jianli urged countries not to elect China. See his remarks below. UN Watch published a detailed report on the elections which examines the pledges and human rights record of each country running. Click here for the report.

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On October 13, the UN General Assembly will be electing new members for the Human Rights Council’s 2021-2023 term, and China is running for the fifth time. During the one-year period of time when China was waiting to be eligible again to run for the Council’s membership, the Chinese government—under the increasingly draconian rule of Xi Jinping—has escalated human rights repression across the board, especially, with its crackdown on critics of the government’s handling of COVID-19 pandemic, persecution of ethnic religious minorities in Xinjiang, Tibet and Inner Mongolia, and annihilation of civil and political liberties in Hong Kong.

Nothing can be further from the truth than China’s voluntary pledge for its current bid for Human Rights Council membership. It claims, for example, that “since the outbreak of COVID-19 the Chinese Government has been giving top-most priority to people’s lives and health” and that “China has acted with openness, transparency and responsibility, updating COVID-19 information in a most timely fashion.” 

In July of this year our organization, Citizen Power Initiatives for China, issued a comprehensive research report entitled “Examining China’s Response to the Covid-19 Outbreak.”  Based on meticulous analysis of data, much of it directly from sources in China, the report establishes a day-by-day, objective record of the Chinese government’s response to the virus outbreak, especially in the critical month between December 26, 2019 and January 25, 2020. The report concludes among other things: 

  1. The Covid-19 epidemic could have been stopped in its early state.
  2. The Chinese government prioritized political stability over peoples’ lives and health.  
  3. The Chinese Government deliberately suppressed information about the source and extent of the outbreak and the overall threat of the pandemic.
  4. The Chinese Government deliberately misled the international community.

This is just one example. 

By any standard, China has grossly violated the Council’s founding principles and does not measure up to its membership criteria. Any statement suggesting otherwise is as cynical as ridicules.

We urge UN member states, especially the democracies, to seriously consider China’s human rights record. If this were an election for a “Human Rights Abusers Council” it would be more than proper to vote for China as it leads the entire world in violating human rights. 

But sadly, I find it imperative and necessary to remind democratic governments around the world that this is an election for the UN Human Rights Council and not the UN Human Rights Abusers Council. The only choice that commensurates with the values you claim to uphold is to vote “No” on China. 

Although the vote next week will be cast in a secret ballot, I urge the people of democracies to ask how your governments vote. You and we, the victims of the Chinese government abuses and China’s human rights defenders, deserve to know.

Thank you.

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]]> Yang Jianli Opposes China's Election to the UNHRC - UN Watch At a UN Watch press conference, Chinese rights activist Yang Jianli urged countries not to elect China to the U.N. Human Rights Council. COVID-19,Hong Kong,Post,Tibet,UN Human Rights Council (HRC),Video,Xinjiang,Yang Jianli YouTube player U.N. grants China special address to spin Hong Kong usurpation https://unwatch.org/u-n-grants-china-special-address-to-spin-hong-kong-usurpation-2/ Wed, 01 Jul 2020 10:28:33 +0000 https://unwatch.org/?p=554332 The post U.N. grants China special address to spin Hong Kong usurpation appeared first on UN Watch.

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]]> U.N. grants China special address to spin Hong Kong usurpation - UN Watch https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nAynEmQ98BQ&t=4s Hong Kong,Video YouTube player Hong Kong Lawmaker Urges Human Rights Council to Probe Police Violence https://unwatch.org/hong-kong-lawmaker-urges-human-rights-council-to-probe-police-violence/ Thu, 03 Oct 2019 18:58:29 +0000 https://unwatch.org/?p=28023 Central to the mission of United Nations Watch is supporting human rights activists who speak the truth on key issues. In September 2019, UN Watch invited Hong Kong Lawmaker Tanya Chan to address the UN Human Rights Council about the deteriorating human rights situation in China involving police violence against pro-democracy protestors and journalists. As […]

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]]> Central to the mission of United Nations Watch is supporting human rights activists who speak the truth on key issues. In September 2019, UN Watch invited Hong Kong Lawmaker Tanya Chan to address the UN Human Rights Council about the deteriorating human rights situation in China involving police violence against pro-democracy protestors and journalists. As a member of Hong Kong’s Legislative Council, practicing barrister, and co-founder of the Civic Party, Ms. Chan has been a staunch advocate for protestors since the anti-extradition movement exploded in June.
In her speech, Ms. Chan called on High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet to investigate the “brutal crackdowns and preemptive violence” targeting Hong Kong protestors.
The video of her speech reached over 100,000 viewers through its different iterations on Facebook and Twitter.
Ms. Chan’s appearance before the top human rights body was reported around the world by the Associated Press, Radio Television Hong Kong, and Bloomberg. She was highlighted by PBS Newshour and discussed in the opinion section of the New York Post.
The day after her speech, a UN Watch press conference was attended by Reuters, Agence France-Presse, Deutsche Press-Agentur, and other major newspaper agencies.
She was also broadcasted on BBC’s “The World” and featured in a National Review podcast and article.
Ms. Chan caused the UN to issue a rare rebuke. Instead of thanking the speaker, which is usual protocol, Council Vice-President and chair of the general debate Carlos Foradori accused her of speaking outside the context of the agenda item. As UN Watch pointed out, and as reported by CNS News, this was absurd because her speech was delivered for an agenda item on “the promotion and protection of all human rights.”
UN Watch Executive Director Hillel Neuer responded directly to the chair’s distorted reaction, saying that “nothing could be more pressing or fitting for the council debate than Ms. Chan’s eyewitness testimony of police brutality against Hong Kong pro-democracy protestors, journalists and regular citizens.”
China’s diplomatic mission to Geneva pushed back against Ms. Chan in the days leading to her appearance. According to a letter seen by Reuters, representatives from China wrote to the UN urging it to deny Chan accreditation for the event. In addition, her speech provoked counter reactions from Hong Kong police. They refuted her accusation about police harassing and humiliating detainees as “groundless” and “reckless.”
The Straights Times reported that the police doubt the credibility of her testimony and claim to have always exercised a high level of restraint while seeking to protect the safety of the public. Ms. Chan’s speech also garnered a response from Carrie Lam, the Chief Executive of Hong Kong. The day after the speech, Lam promised to begin dialogue sessions with the community as soon as possible, according to a Reuters report.
In wake of the hypocrisy and lies pervading the 47-nation human rights body, UN Watch was pleased to welcome Ms. Chan to speak on its behalf and expose the truth on the human rights situation in Hong Kong. We commend her efforts to promote the freedom of expression and to expose the escalation of police violence, which has endangered the personal safety and freedom of expression of demonstrators, journalists, and the general public.
Click here for video. 

_______

Testimony of Hon. Tanya Chan, delivered on behalf of United Nations Watch
Mr. President,
I am Tanya Chan, speaking as a Hong Kong legislator, activist and lawyer.
Hong Kong is on the verge of a humanitarian crisis, as police brutality against supporters of the democratic movement escalates.
Arrested protesters face physical abuse and humiliation by the police. A female protester openly spoke of an unnecessary and degrading strip search she went through. More sexual abuse cases remain unreported. Detained protesters were denied timely access to medical and legal assistance.
Use of force is excessive and indiscriminate. The police shot a beanbag round at a first-aider and blinded one of her eyes. The riot police attacked innocent subway passengers whom they claimed were rioters in disguise. As of now the police has fired more than 2000 tear gas cans.
The police call protesters “cockroaches”. Brutal crackdowns and pre-emptive violence against them are hence regarded as acceptable pest control to curb free speech.
Today marks the one-hundredth day of the movement, but there is no sign the police will exercise restraint. This is a result of the lack of democracy in Hong Kong, as the government is not held accountable for its endorsement of police abuse.
Will the High Commissioner [Michelle Bachelet] support our appeal for this Council to convene an urgent session and establish a Commission of Inquiry, to ensure human rights for the people of Hong Kong?
Why is China sitting here as a member of this Human Rights Council?
Thank you.

Hong Kong pro-democracy legislator Tanya Chan addresses a session of the Human Rights Council at the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, September 16, 2019. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse

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]]> Hong Kong pro-democracy legislator Chan addresses a session of the Human Rights Council at the United Nations in Geneva Hong Kong pro-democracy legislator Tanya Chan addresses a session of the Human Rights Council at the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, September 16, 2019. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse In The News: Hong Kong Lawmaker Urges UNHRC to Probe Police Brutality https://unwatch.org/in-the-news-hong-kong-lawmaker-urges-unhrc-to-probe-police-brutality/ Thu, 19 Sep 2019 14:53:31 +0000 https://unwatch.org/?p=27493 On September 16, 2019, pro-democracy Hong Kong legislator Tanya Chan called on the top human rights body to investigate the “brutal crackdowns and preemptive violence” by police. Her speech urging High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet to establish a commission of inquiry has been reported across the globe. For video, photos, transcripts, and more, […]

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Hong Kong pro-democracy legislator Tanya Chan

On September 16, 2019, pro-democracy Hong Kong legislator Tanya Chan called on the top human rights body to investigate the “brutal crackdowns and preemptive violence” by police. Her speech urging High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet to establish a commission of inquiry has been reported across the globe.
For video, photos, transcripts, and more, click here.
Top Media Mentions on Tanya Chan’s United Nations Speech

Reuters: “Tanya Chan addressed the U.N. Human Rights Council in Geneva as Hong Kong’s businesses and metro stations reopened as usual on Monday after a chaotic Sunday when police fired water cannon tear gas and rubber bullets at protestors who blocked roads and threw petrol bombs outside government headquarters.”
Associated Press: “In Geneva, Hong Kong lawmaker Tanya Chan urged the U.N. Human Rights Council to probe alleged police brutality against protestors. Chan said police who have called protestors cockroach’s, were carrying out ‘test control to curb free speech.’”
Radio Television Hong Kong: “[Chan] was invited by the non-governmental organization UN Watch to take its allotted spot and briefly address the council after more than three months of huge, sometimes violent rallies calling for greater democratic freedoms and police accountability.”
Bloomberg: “On the 100th day of the #HongKongProtests, lawmaker Tanya Chan appealed to the UN to probe ‘brutal crackdowns and preemptive violence’ by police.”
CNA: “Chan stressed the need to put an international spotlight on Hong Kong, especially in the run-up to the Oct. 1 celebrations of the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China.”
La Liberte: “In front of UN member states, the parliamentarian, recently sentenced to eight months in prison, asked High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet to support this call for an investigative mechanism. She condemned ‘brutal repressive measures’ by the police.” 
New York Post: “Providing yet more evidence that it’s an utter travesty, the United Nations Human Rights Council on Monday chastised a Hong Kong lawmaker for calling out the truth.”
PBS Newshour: “After another weekend of protests that saw some in the crowds throwing bricks and firebombs…a pro-democracy legislator from Hong Kong appealed to the U.N. human rights body to investigate.”



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]]> hongkong-protests_un_tanya-chan Hong Kong pro-democracy legislator Tanya Chan UN rebukes Hong Kong lawmaker Tanya Chan after Human Rights Council address https://unwatch.org/un-rebukes-hong-kong-lawmaker-tanya-chan-after-human-rights-council-address/ Mon, 16 Sep 2019 11:30:42 +0000 https://unwatch.org/?p=27474   https://www.facebook.com/unwatch/videos/2439228336326116/?__xts__[0]=68.ARDUVCJiNnBSYrsNHj2TC5W5IW1BwJIoO8EOZGPOYq8GSaHyAc2w-gA9QbqNl6lvXhQKnauivFyzR8uMk6seUVGjBS9NJFljlVjRZZW66EZUnKjGkBr79jJHydQX96eDxWOQZV7EBn9NcJrWnpgecBGP4lQGXtLlcVkBFiF2MJuvEn9T_ew_3dn7KWluGiWlmcSCKA8ptNvZja76P5z573_D8EfnBJf_4OnVnYba5f1-ExuRQNHp3s64Zj–31YgjK_30c7m5LIAATplvURWjmknfyCBaWdKwDzwXGg-5o8DfiJw9fRA5NPZHaBRJOZ5_oM39kIfygMgU8s3A95BFYYe7021dg&__tn__=-R GENEVA, Sept. 16, 2019 – The UN Human Rights Council, where China, Cuba and Saudi Arabia are members, chastised Hong Kong lawmaker Tanya Chan after her testimony today (see full remarks below) on police brutality against protesters, with the session chair saying her remarks fell outside the framework of the agenda item on […]

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https://www.facebook.com/unwatch/videos/2439228336326116/?__xts__[0]=68.ARDUVCJiNnBSYrsNHj2TC5W5IW1BwJIoO8EOZGPOYq8GSaHyAc2w-gA9QbqNl6lvXhQKnauivFyzR8uMk6seUVGjBS9NJFljlVjRZZW66EZUnKjGkBr79jJHydQX96eDxWOQZV7EBn9NcJrWnpgecBGP4lQGXtLlcVkBFiF2MJuvEn9T_ew_3dn7KWluGiWlmcSCKA8ptNvZja76P5z573_D8EfnBJf_4OnVnYba5f1-ExuRQNHp3s64Zj–31YgjK_30c7m5LIAATplvURWjmknfyCBaWdKwDzwXGg-5o8DfiJw9fRA5NPZHaBRJOZ5_oM39kIfygMgU8s3A95BFYYe7021dg&__tn__=-R
GENEVA, Sept. 16, 2019 – The UN Human Rights Council, where China, Cuba and Saudi Arabia are members, chastised Hong Kong lawmaker Tanya Chan after her testimony today (see full remarks below) on police brutality against protesters, with the session chair saying her remarks fell outside the framework of the agenda item on “promotion and protection of all human rights.”
“I would like to appeal to the speaker to frame the statement within the context of the agenda item strictly,” said Carlos Mario Foradori, vice-president of the 47-nation body and ambassador of Argentina, who chaired this morning’s debate.
Human rights activists were alarmed by the council reaction. “On the contrary, nothing could be more pressing or fitting for the council debate than Ms. Chan’s eyewitness testimony of police brutality against Hong Kong pro-democracy protesters, journalists and regular citizens,” said Hillel Neuer, executive director of the non-governmental human rights group UN Watch, which invited Ms. Chan to speak.

__________

Testimony of Hon. Tanya Chan, delivered on behalf of United Nations Watch.

Mr. President,

I am Tanya Chan, speaking as a Hong Kong legislator, activist and lawyer.

Hong Kong is on the verge of a humanitarian crisis, as police brutality against supporters of the democratic movement escalates.

Arrested protesters face physical abuse and humiliation by the police. A female protester openly spoke of an unnecessary and degrading strip search she went through. More sexual abuse cases remain unreported. Detained protesters were denied timely access to medical and legal assistance.

Use of force is excessive and indiscriminate. The police shot a beanbag round at a first-aider and blinded one of her eyes. The riot police attacked innocent subway passengers whom they claimed were rioters in disguise. As of now the police has fired more than 2000 tear gas cans.

The police call protesters “cockroaches”. Brutal crackdowns and pre-emptive violence against them are hence regarded as acceptable pest control to curb free speech.

Today marks the one-hundredth day of the movement, but there is no sign the police will exercise restraint. This is a result of the lack of democracy in Hong Kong, as the government is not held accountable for its endorsement of police abuse.

Will the High Commissioner [Michelle Bachelet] support our appeal for this Council to convene an urgent session and establish a Commission of Inquiry, to ensure human rights for the people of Hong Kong?

Why is China sitting here as a member of this Human Rights Council?

Thank you.
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