Geneva, 15 Feb. The UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights on Wednesday expressed concern about the state of these rights in China, including the lack of freedom of expression of the country’s citizens and the situation of ethnic minorities and in Hong Kong.
During the examination of China’s third periodic report before this body in Geneva, the members of the commission questioned the Asian country on the arbitrary arrests of lawyers and human rights defenders who are the subject of pressure, threats and imprisonment, according to various civil society actors.
In similar terms, they asked China about the situation of workers in the country – especially those of Uyghur or Tibetan ethnicity – who are sent to “training centers” (classified as re-education camps by human rights NGOs). rights) where they could be subjected to forced labour.
In addition, committee members asked the Chinese government for information on the status of migrant workers, those belonging to minority groups, those from rural China and women.
The labor issues of most concern to the UN Committee are possible reductions in workers’ rights in China during the covid-19 containment policy, restrictions on freedom of association and lack of guarantees regarding the right strike action or the prevention of work accidents in the country
Beyond the scope of the work, the UN questioned China on the mass expulsions of people from ethnic minorities, on the situation of the population in the regions of Xinjiang and Tibet, on the transparency regarding the dissemination of data on the covid-19 pandemic and on China’s diplomatic actions, in particular with regard to the New Silk Roads.
As for Hong Kong – one of the two special administrative regions of China – the UN has expressed concern about the violation of the rights of the inhabitants of this city, in particular after the promulgation of the national security law in 2020. EFE
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