Item 4 \u2013 Human Rights situation that require the Council\u2019s attention
17 September 2019
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“Regarding China<\/strong>, the EU is concerned about the existence of political re-education camps, widespread surveillance, and restrictions on freedom of religion or belief, against Uighurs and other minorities in Xinjiang. We urge China to allow meaningful access to Xinjiang for independent observers, including for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. The EU urges China to ensure rule of law, establish fair trial guarantees and investigate thoroughly reported cases of arbitrary detentions, mistreatment and torture of human rights defenders and their families. We are gravely concerned about the detentions and trials of human rights defenders and lawyers including Wang Quangzhang, Yu Wensheng, Qin Yongmin, Gao Zhisheng, Ilham Tohti, Huang Qi, Tashi Wangchuk, Tiyip Tashpolat, Li Yuhan, Wu Gan, Cheng Yuan, Liu Dazhi, Wuge Jianxiong. The continued detention of EU national Gui Minhai is of serious concern and the EU calls for his immediate release. We call on China to uphold its national and international obligations, and to respect human rights, including the rights of persons belonging to minorities especially in Xinjiang and Tibet. The EU recalls that fundamental freedoms, including the right of peaceful assembly, and Hong Kong\u2019s high degree of autonomy under the \u2018one country, two systems\u2019 principle, are enshrined in the Basic Law and in international agreements and must continue to be upheld.”
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