HRIC Joins UPR Pre-Review Session in Geneva
Civil society and member states met to discuss China's human rights record
In the last week of November 2023, the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) pre-review session of China was held in Geneva. Alongside the official pre-review session on November 29, 2023, there were also a number of side events held in the same week, which provided opportunities for civil society organizations and defenders to inform member states on significant human rights issues happening in China. The official UPR review session of China is scheduled for January 23, 2024.
Human Rights in China (HRIC) has regularly contributed to the cycles of the Universal Periodic Review, an important mechanism that reviews countries’ human rights situations on a periodic basis, and has provided information relevant to the overall rights regression in China since the first cycle in 2009. For this Fourth Cycle’s pre-review session, a staff member of HRIC went to Geneva to engage with government missions, civil society organization representatives, and other human rights defenders, who all gathered in-person to discuss in-depth and strategize ahead of the actual review in January 2024.
In July 2023, HRIC made two submissions to the UN Universal Periodic Review (Fourth Cycle) of China.
The first submission focuses on online rights and internet freedoms in Hong Kong, which have significantly deteriorated in the post-COVID era, especially after the promulgation of the National Security Law. We highlight how individuals and groups have been adversely affected in terms of the rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, and association, as well as how women have been disproportionately affected evidenced by the online gender-based violence they experience. Read the full submission report here.
HRIC has also collaborated with China Rainbow Observation, The Chinese Lala Association, and Chinese Trans Voices to jointly submit a report on discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, and expression in China. The submission urges China to take several actions: amend laws to prohibit LGBTQ discrimination in education, employment, and healthcare; simplify the registration process for LGBTQ organizations; prioritize sexual health education, particularly focusing on HIV/AIDS prevention; and promote fair representation of LGBTQ individuals in the media to foster greater public acceptance. Read the full submission report here.
In light of the compelling evidence and accounts of human rights violations and abuses happening within China and impacted regions including Xinjiang, Tibet, Hong Kong and Macau, we urge the relevant authorities to address the deteriorating human rights situation in China, as well as for UN member states to raise these issues and make concrete recommendations during the actual UPR review.
