Canada Reiterates Concern Over China’s Abuse of Uyghurs on Anniversary of UN Report

Canada is criticizing China’s continued disregard for international calls to address severe human rights violations against Uyghurs, marking the second anniversary of a United Nations report that highlighted abuses carried out under the guise of fighting terrorism.
“Reports continue to point to systemic human rights violations by Chinese authorities. Uyghurs are forced into labour in Xinjiang and elsewhere in China.”
The 2022 OHCHR report noted that the “serious human rights violations” in Xinjiang included the arbitrary detention of large numbers of Uyghurs in what China describes as “vocational education and training centres.”
While the Chinese regime says these centres are part of efforts to counter terrorism and “extremism,” the OHCHR raised concerns about the regime’s vague definition of extremism and the reported ill treatment of detainees. Citing interviews with former detainees, the report details accounts of various forms of torture and abuse experienced during their time in or while being transferred to these centres.
Additionally, Global Affairs Canada said U.N. experts have expressed concerns about children being forced into state-run residential schools in Xinjiang and other parts of China. Noting that the regime denied the findings and blocked discussion at the U.N. Human Rights Council, the department pledged to work with international partners to hold China accountable for its human rights violations.
“Canada calls on China to address the concerns raised in the UN assessment and to implement its recommendations without delay. This includes allowing UN independent experts access to Xinjiang and to other regions of China to assess conditions,” Global Affairs Canada said in its statement.