UK Government says it will “monitor “ allegations that the UN Human Rights Council shared details of human rights activists with the Chinese Communist Party and says in Xinjiang “Human rights defenders play an essential role in promoting and protecting democracy, respect for human rights and the rule of law.”
Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, has provided the following answer to your written parliamentary question (HL9972):
Question by Lord Alton of Liverpool
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of reports that details of human rights activists working in China were allegedly shared with the government of China by the UN Human Rights Council; what steps, if any, they intend to take in response to those allegations; and what plans they have to clarify whether any British citizens’ details were so shared. (HL9972)
Tabled on: 04 November 2020
This question was grouped with the following question(s) for answer:
1. To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have, if any, to call for a inquiry into the allegations that the UN Human Rights Council shared details of human rights activists in China with the government of China. (HL9974)
Tabled on: 04 November 2020
Answer:
Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon:
The UK is aware of these reports and has made a number of enquiries into them. We note that the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has said it stopped the practice of occasionally confirming the names of UN Human Rights Council participants to States in 2015 and does not believe that it has resulted in harm to any participants. We will continue to monitor the situation.
Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, has provided the following answer to your written parliamentary question (HL9973):
Question by Lord Alton of Liverpool
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of reports that the government of China has harassed human rights activists working in that country to support Uighurs; and what steps they have taken to assist those activists. (HL9973)
Tabled on: 04 November 2020
Answer:
Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon:
We are deeply concerned by the arbitrary detention of over a million Uyghurs in Xinjiang, including advocates of Uyghurs’ rights, culture, language and religion. We engage with a range of human rights defenders, including Uyghur and non-Uyghur and those based outside of China, to better understand what is happening in Xinjiang. This informs our response to the violation and abuses in Xinjiang. Human rights defenders play an essential role in promoting and protecting democracy, respect for human rights and the rule of law.
Date and time of answer: 18 Nov 2020 at 14:42.
