Two years after a UN report suggested that Chinese government policies in Xinjiang could be considered crimes against humanity, the UN’s human rights office still finds problematic laws and policies in place in the region. Despite detailed exchanges with Beijing, limited access to information and fear of reprisals hinder progress. The office called for a review and strengthening of protections for minorities in Xinjiang. The situation was revisited on the report’s second anniversary, affirming that human rights violations, including torture, need thorough investigation. While the US and EU have taken action against forced labor in Xinjiang, the situation remains dire. Uygur activists are hopeful for change but note that China has yet to implement recommendations from the UN. The international community’s pressure on China may bring about change in the future, but challenges persist in holding the Chinese government accountable for its actions in Xinjiang.
Xinjiang still plagued by ‘problematic laws’ 2 years after UN report
