Australia and NZ ‘Deeply Concerned’ at UN Findings of China’s Human Rights Violations in Xinjiang

People take part in a rally to encourage Canada and other countries as they consider labeling China's treatment of its Uyghur population and Muslim minorities as genocide, outside the Canadian Embassy in Washington on Feb. 19, 2021. Reuters/Leah Millis

The foreign ministers of Australia and New Zealand have expressed their deep concern at the findings and conclusion of the new United Nations (U.N.) report on human rights concerns in Xinjiang and supported calls for China to respond.

The 48-page report, published on Sept. 1 by United Nations Human Rights Commissioner Michelle Bachelet, found evidence that the mostly Muslim ethnic minority groups were subjected to mass internment, forced labour, sexual abuse, family separations, and torture.

U.N. investigators uncovered “credible evidence” of torture possibly amounting to “crimes against humanity” at so-called Vocational Education and Training Centres in China between 2017 and 2019.

Beijing has defended the centres, stating that people in those facilities learn language and job skills.

Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said Australia has consistently condemned the human rights violations against the Uyghurs and other ethnic minorities in Xinjiang and across China.

“The Australian Government has emphasised the importance of transparency and accountability in calling on China to grant meaningful and unfettered access to Xinjiang for United Nations experts and other independent observers,” she said in a statement.

Australia joined the international community in calling on the Chinese communist regime to address the concerns raised in the report, Wong said.

New Zealand Joins International Calls

New Zealand Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta similarly supported international calls for China to respond to the concerns and recommendations raised in the report.

“Aotearoa New Zealand has been consistent in raising grave concerns regarding the treatment of Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities in Xinjiang,” Mahuta said.

“The High Commissioner’s report notes that the extent of arbitrary and discriminatory detention in Xinjiang may constitute crimes against humanity.

“Aotearoa New Zealand will continue to work with our partners and in multilateral institutions to speak up and defend universal human rights, including for religious and ethnic minorities.”

The New Zealand government will take more time to consider all details of the report before determining its next steps.

Penny Wong (L), Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs meets with Nanaia Mahuta, New Zealand Foreign Affairs Minister for bilateral talks in Wellington, New Zealand, on June 16, 2022. Robert Kitchin - Pool/Getty Images

However, Beijing has dismissed the report as a “groundless” smear campaign, denied all allegations of abuse and asserted that the camps are being used to fight terrorism.

The World Uyghur Congress, an umbrella group that represents about 60 organizations, welcomed the report while calling for an “immediate response to put an end to atrocities against Uyghurs.”

“This is a game-changer for the international response to the Uyghur crisis,” Uyghur Human Rights Project Executive Director Omer Kanat said in a statement. “Despite the Chinese government’s strenuous denials, the U.N. has now officially recognized that horrific crimes are occurring.”

Katabella Roberts contributed to this report.