On July 4, 2024, the United Nations Human Rights Council adopted its Universal Periodic Review (UPR) report on China.
The UPR process, which takes place every five years, is the only mechanism where every country’s human rights performance is assessed by the international community. During China’s last UPR, from January 22 to February 2, 2024, a record total of 161 UN member states commented on Beijing’s human rights record and made non-binding recommendations for improvements with the Chinese authorities.
The Human Rights Council consists of 47 Member States including China. The July 4, 2024 meeting demonstrated the extent of China’s influence over many of the council members. Chinese representatives not only rejected many of the recommendations from the UPR, but hijacked the entire mechanism and platform to advance its agenda of redefining human rights and lobbying council members. China rejected almost all recommendations related to the situation of Uyghurs and Tibetans, the rule of law in Hong Kong, and the State’s repression against human rights defenders, lawyers and journalists and LGBTIQ+ advocates.
Instead of holding China accountable, a large number of council members repeated Chinese government talking points and congratulated China on poverty reduction and economic growth – areas that China defines as human rights.
A joint statement by 29 NGOs delivered at the Human Rights Council after China’s remark said “Beijing’s facade as a constructive actor at the UN is shattered by its acts of reprisals against
human rights defenders throughout this UPR cycle, and by attempts to block NGO access to this very room.” It urged “China to genuinely engage with the UN human rights system to enact meaningful reform, and ensure all individuals and peoples enjoy internationally protected human rights.”
UN Watch details how China “employed dubious tactics to undermine the process and prevent legitimate criticism of its abuses” including trying to limit NGOs from hosting side events and intimidating pro-Chinese attendees. It accuses UN staff of caving under Chinese pressure.
