I would like to invite the Government to enlarge on the statement in the Gracious Speech that they will “ uphold human rights and democracy across the world.”
I refer to various non-financial interests in the Register.
The Foreign Secretary recently appeared before the International Relations and Defence Committee and I urged him to lead the reform of the UN Security Council veto powers – to remove the right of veto – used particularly by China and Russia – to block the referral of atrocity crimes and Genocide to the International Criminal Court.
Take Xinjiang.
Last month the House of Commons resolved that crimes against one million Muslim Uyghurs enslaved there constitutes a Genocide. But no action is taken at the Security Council because the CCP vetoes, threatens, intimidates, or sanctions, all who try to hold it to account.
In North Korea, a 2014 UN Commission of Inquiry described the country as “without parallel” and called for Crimes against Humanity to be referred by the Security Council to the ICC. Seven years later the CCP’s veto ensures it doesn’t happen.
In Burma, the illegal regime, authors of atrocity crimes against Rohingya, Kachin and other minorities – strut with impunity, aided and abetted by their authoritarian friends in Beijing.
Or take Tigray described as “one vast crime scene”, with women and girls, some as young as eight, systematically raped. One woman was told by her violator that “A Tigrayan womb should never give birth.’
Nearly 800 were murdered at Axum. Starvation is being used as a weapon of war. The Guardian reported last week that hyenas had been eating the corpses. With Russia, the CCP has thwarted attempts in the Security Council to hold the perpetrators to account
June 19th will mark the UN International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in conflict.
That day, the UK, with its significant record on the Prevention of Sexual Violence in Conflict, should lay a Resolution before the Security Council demanding an end to this new genocide.
But ML this isn’t just about the Security Council or the veto.
In taking control of the human rights agenda, China – along with Russia, Pakistan, and Cuba – are all now members of the UN Human Rights Council – making the watchdog and the burglar interchangeable.
As it subverts multilateral institutions the CCP uses debt bondage through its $760 billion belt and road initiative – encompassing 71 countries – to turn developing nations into vassal States.
Last week it warned such countries not to attend a UN meeting which the UK cohosted on crimes against Uyghurs.
CCP compliance requires silence or support for human rights violations in Xinjiang, Hong Kong, and Tibet; support for the CCP’s threats against Taiwan; and its use of sanctions – and threats of missile strikes – against Australia after it called for an independent investigation into the origins of Covid 19.
Last week the CCP hammered another nail into Hong Kong’s place as a global financial centre, based in the rule of law, by freezing £500 million of assets of Jimmy Lai, a British citizen and champion, through his independent media, of Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Similarly, the CCP’ violation of Article 18 – freedom of religion or belief – is evident in the treatment and imprisonment of Muslim Uyghurs, Tibetan Buddhists, Christians, and Falun Gong.
Or take Article 4 and Article 23 which prohibit slavery and protect workers rights.
On June 15th I am introducing a Private Members Bill to strengthen the provisions in the Modern Slavery Act on supply chains. The UK is right to challenge the use of slave labour but must also be alive to the dangers inherent in the CCP’s ownership of £135 billion of UK assets.
Tomorrow the European Parliament, in response to attempts to silence MEPs by sanctioning them, will vote on the freezing of the mammoth investment agreement with China.
In evaluating the threat to human rights posed by the CCP, George Soros has described Xi Jinping as the most dangerous enemy that open societies face.
Throughout Asia millions – perhaps billions – aspire for open and free societies and dream of democracy, the rule of law, and human rights.
We must resist the post Brexit temptation to deepen trade with a State credibly accused of Genocide. Instead, and build stronger alliances with rising Asian nations who share the aspiration of the Gracious Speech to promote human rights across the world.
