British Foreign Secretary calls for UN fact-finding mission to Xinjiang

On February 22, 2021, the British Foreign Secretary, The Rt. Hon. MP Dominic Raab, called on the UN Human Rights Council to ensure that the situation in Xinjiang is considered a matter of urgency. Commenting on the situation of the Uighurs, Dominic Raab said: “No one can ignore the evidence anymore. (…) We see almost daily reports shedding new light on China’s systematic human rights violations against Uighur Muslims and other minorities in Xinjiang. The situation in Xinjiang is incredible. The abuses reported, including torture, forced labor and forced sterilization of women, are extreme and extensive. They are taking place on an industrial scale. It must be our collective duty to ensure that this does not go unanswered. ”

Dominic Raab proposed that the investigation should be carried out by the UN mechanisms, either “the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights or another independent expert in investigation [who] it must (and I repeat, must) have urgent and unrestricted access to Xinjiang. “As he emphasized:” For the members of this Human Rights Council to live up to our responsibilities, there must be a resolution that ensures this access. ”

This call to action comes after the US State Department recognized atrocities against Uighurs as genocide and crimes against humanity and shortly before the Canadian House of Commons recognized the treatment of Uighurs. Uighurs as genocide. While the UK government has made no such determination, the UK Parliament has challenged the government’s lack of determination and action on the issue. The Chinese government continues to deny any wrongdoing.

While such an investigation into the situation in Xinjiang is urgently needed, the investigation can do more than just collect and consider evidence of the alleged crimes. For example, the UN could establish a mechanism similar to the International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism for Syria (IIIM). The IIIM was established by the UN General Assembly to “collect, consolidate, preserve and analyze evidence of violations of international humanitarian law and human rights violations and abuses and prepare files in order to facilitate and expedite fair and independent criminal proceedings, in accordance with norms of international law, in national, regional or international courts or tribunals that have or may in the future have jurisdiction over these crimes, in accordance with international law ”. As such, the mechanism goes beyond assessing the situation and making recommendations. Indeed, it is the first step in ensuring that the actors responsible for the atrocities are brought to justice in the future. This is a model worthy of replication for the atrocities in Xinjiang.

As more states begin to make their assessments and determinations of the situation of Uighurs in Xinjiang and recognize atrocities along the lines of international crimes such as genocide, it is critical to ensure that these determinations are followed by action. Actions to stop atrocities, assist victims, investigate crimes, and prosecute perpetrators. The next few weeks will show whether the powerful statements are just empty words or, indeed, the first step towards justice.