The UN Human Rights Council’s Universal Periodic Review (UPR) Working Group examined the human rights record of China, one of the 14 states reviewed during this year’s session. This is China’s fourth review, with previous ones conducted in February 2009, October 2013, and November 2018 which served as a foundation for the latest review.
China has argued substantial progress in improving human rights across various domains. For instance, between 2014 and 2022, the national net rate of school enrollment increased, signifying an expanded access to primary education. In terms of civil rights, China highlighted the positive impact of legislative changes in protecting public rights to information, participation, expression, and oversight.
However, the UN review also tackled concerns surrounding the freedoms of speech and expression, particularly in Hong Kong and alleged human rights abuses in ethnic minority regions like Xinjiang and Tibet. For instance, the implementation of Hong Kong’s National Security Law has stirred global anxieties about potential infringements on civil rights and democracy.
An explicit example is the serious concern over human rights violations against the Uyghur Muslim minority in Xinjiang. Previous reports cited credible allegations of serious human rights violations in the area which China has categorically denied.
In fact, China reported an increase in its ethnic-minority population and claimed progressive policies, including free education in certain regions of Tibet and Xinjiang.
The UPR was established with the aim of expanding worldwide protection of human rights. This unique mechanism allows each UN Member State to undergo a periodic peer review of its human rights records, report on actions it has taken to enhance the human rights situation, and receive recommendations for future amelioration from other member states.