China’s human rights record was examined by the United Nations Human Rights Council’s Universal Periodic Review (UPR) Working Group for the fourth time during the UPR Working Group session from January 22 to February 2, 2024. The three earlier UPR reviews of China took place in February 2009, October 2013, and November 2018, respectively. As China’s ambition to play a more prominent role at the U.N and other multilateral institutions expands, how has its approach at the U.N. Human Rights Council changed? Are the UPRs that occur approximately every five years making a difference? What can be done to counter China’s approach?
Date: Wednesday, March 20, 2024
Time: 10:30 am (Washington DC). 2:30 pm (London). 8:00 pm (New Delhi)
Event Type: Virtual (YouTube,Facebook and LinkedIn)
Participants:
| Carmen Lau International Advocacy and Program Associate Hong Kong Democracy Council |
Ramona Li Senior Researcher and Advocate Chinese Human Rights Defenders |
| Peter Irwin Associate Director for Research/Advocacy Uyghur Human Rights Project |
Mandie McKeown Executive Director International Tibet Network |
Moderator:
Sakina Batt
Host, Freedom Hour, AFI
Streaming Links:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AsiaFreedomInstitute/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AsiaFreedomInstitute/streams
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/asia-freedom-institute/
BIOGRAPHIES
Carmen Lau
Carmen Lau is the International Advocacy and Program Associate at the Hong Kong Democracy Council (HKDC), supporting HKDC in extending its advocacy efforts to the international community. Carmen is a Hong Kong activist who is currently living in exile in the UK. Carmen served as a legislative assistant to one of the pro-democratic legislators. During the 2019 pro-democracy movement, she was elected as a district councillor. She also served as the Deputy Secretary-General for the Civic Party, the second-largest pro-democratic party, which has since been forcibly dissolved in Hong Kong. However, in 2021, she was forced to resign by the government and later fled Hong Kong to the UK. In December 2021, along with four other activists, she was wanted for “blank votes incitement” during the Legislative Council elections. Carmen has testified on Hong Kong media freedom and the crackdown on civil society before the UK Parliament APPG on Hong Kong. She has been interviewed and quoted by the Financial Times, Politico, BBC, NHK, Nikkei Asia, France 24, Swiss Public TV, among other outlets.
Ramona Li
Ramona Li is a senior researcher and advocate for the network of Chinese Human Rights Defenders. She has worked with various grassroots communities in China on feminist, labor, religious freedom, and disability rights issues. Her writing has appeared in various outlets like Foreign Policy and The American Prospect
Peter Irwin
Peter Irwin is Associate Director for Research and Advocacy at the Uyghur Human Rights Project. He directs the organization’s communication strategy across platforms and works with journalists to amplify research and advocacy globally. Peter leads UHRP’s advocacy at the United Nations and other multilateral organizations, and supports targeted engagement with diverse stakeholders, including governments and civil society. Peter also conducts and edits research for the general public, researchers, governments, and for submissions to UN bodies and government agencies. Peter regularly offers commentary to leading media outlets on UHRP research, and has written original pieces for The Guardian, The Independent, Hong Kong Free Press and The Diplomat.
Mandie McKeown
Mandie McKeown has been working in the Tibetan Freedom Movement for over 20 years and has in-depth knowledge and experience of campaigning, collaboration, and non-violent activism. Working with Tibet Network since 2008 she has developed and coordinated multiple successful campaigns within the Movement and is devoted to bringing change to Tibet and for the Tibetan people.
Sakina Batt
Sakina Batt is a Producer and Director at Meeting Point, a leading audio-visual production house and buying agency in Nepal. She directs promotional videos, does voice overs, writes scripts and copywriting for the videos in Meeting Point. Sakina worked for Tibet TV at the Central Tibetan Administration in India for four years (2017-2021) where she served as a news presenter and an interview host. She also made short documentaries for the channel, wrote scripts, conducted research, edited videos and anchored the show In Conversation with Tibet TV. Sakina has a Masters in Mass Communication from Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi and a bachelors from Delhi University.
