Geneva, Switzerland
Reuters
The UN human rights chief said on Thursday that she is still aiming to release a long-anticipated report on China’s treatment of its Uyghur minority in Xinjiang by the end of her four-year mandate next week amid “tremendous pressure” from all sides.
But the lack of a firm commitment by former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet in her final press conference stoked further criticism from civil society groups who have accused her of being too soft on China since a May visit.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet attends her final news conference before the end of her mandate at the UN in Geneva, Switzerland, on 25th August. PICTURE: Reuters/Pierre Albouy
The report has been in the works for three years and promised for months but has not been published for unclear reasons.
“We are trying very hard to do what I promised,” Bachelet said, referring to a pledge to release the report before the end of her term on 31st August.
Asked to elaborate on why it has not been released, Bachelet said she needed time to integrate new information from her visit and to review input on the report’s contents from China.
Rights groups accuse Beijing of abuses against Uyghurs, a mainly Muslim ethnic minority that numbers around 10 million in the western region of Xinjiang, including the mass use of forced labour in internment camps. The United States has accused China of genocide.
China has vigorously denied the allegations.
Sophie Richardson, China director of Human Rights Watch, said Bachelet’s response was “woefully inadequate” given the scale of abuses. Michele Taylor, US ambassador on human rights in Geneva, called for the report’s release, saying “the world deserves an independent and honest account” of the situation.
“Under tremendous pressure”
Reuters reported last month that China had asked Bachelet to bury the report, according to a Chinese letter that was confirmed by diplomats.
Bachelet confirmed on Thursday having received that letter which she said was signed by about 40 other states, adding that her office would not respond to such pressure.
“I have been under tremendous pressure to publish or not to publish but I will not publish or withhold publication due to any such pressure,” she said.
While it is normal practice for Bachelet’s office to share an unpublished report with the concerned country, rights groups worry this gives China the scope to shape its contents.
“Our concern is that the longer the report is not released, the more likely it could be whitewashed,” said Renee Xia, director of the Network of Chinese Human Rights Defenders.
In her closing speech, Bachelet also called on Russian President Vladimir Putin to halt the attack against Ukraine.
Bachelet, 70, plans to return to Chile to retire. Many candidates have applied for the job but no successor has yet been named by Secretary-General Antonio Guterres whose choice must then be approved by the General Assembly in New York.
Bachelet, the 8th High Commissioner, said she felt proud of progress on abolishing the death penalty and the recognition of environmental rights, but said she felt hamstrung by COVID-19 restrictions that prevented more country visits.
“It’s really sometimes very frustrating not to be able to advance much more. Sometimes you feel that the world is not getting better,” she said.
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Later on Thursday, Bachelet condemned Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro’s upcoming rally against judicial institutions, and said the country’s human rights situation is “very difficult”.
“I think President Bolsonaro has intensified his attacks on the judiciary and electronic voting system, including during a meeting with ambassadors in July which sparked strong reactions, as you know,” Bachelet said in a news conference in Geneva, referring to a briefing where Bolsonaro expressed unfounded concern about electoral fraud to diplomats in Brazil.
“That, I think, is more concerning is the President has called his supporters to protest against judicial institutions on 7th September, the day of the 200th anniversary of Brazil’s independence,” she said.
Bolsonaro wants his supporters to attend the rally – taking place less than a month before the presidential election – along Rio de Janeiro’s Copacabana Beach. He has also sought to involve the military in the political event.
“You don’t do things that can increase violence or hate against democratic institutions that should be respected and strengthened and not try to undermine them through strong political speech,” Bachelet said.
She also slammed Brazil’s “very difficult human rights situation”, highlighting reports of increased political violence, structured racism and shrinking civic space.
“I feel that attacks against legislators and candidates, particularly those of African descent, women and LGBTI people are of particular concern,” the former Chilean president said.
“When a leader starts using a language that can be used in the wrong direction, I think it’s really bad…Leaders need to ensure the country is able to progress where dialogue and respect for the other exists because that’s what democracy is about,” Bachelet said.
