August 31, 2024 – Ottawa, Ontario – Global Affairs Canada

Today, Global Affairs Canada issued the following statement:

“Two years have passed since the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights released a landmark assessment, detailing grave human rights violations in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of China. The assessment describes serious human rights violations that have been committed in Xinjiang, and notes that the extent of arbitrary and discriminatory detention of Uyghurs and other Muslim ethnic minorities may constitute international crimes, in particular crimes against humanity.

“After the assessment was released, Canada called on the Chinese government to uphold its international human rights obligations and respond to the grave concerns and assessment recommendations.

“Two years later, China has not taken meaningful steps to address these concerns despite ongoing calls from Canada, other governments, UN experts, human rights organizations, victims’ groups and the global Uyghur diaspora. 

“Reports continue to point to systemic human rights violations by Chinese authorities. Uyghurs are forced into labour in Xinjiang and elsewhere in China. Religious practice, particularly Islam, is limited, with mosques being the first to be massively targeted. 

“UN experts have also expressed concerns that children are being forced into state-run residential schools in Xinjiang and other parts of China. Instead of addressing these concerns with transparency, China denied the findings and blocked discussion at the UN Human Rights Council.

“Canada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Mélanie Joly has raised Canada’s concerns with Wang Yi, China’s Director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs and Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Canada’s Ambassador to the People’s Republic of China Jennifer May also raised them with local officials during her recent visit to Xinjiang.

“Canada calls on China to address the concerns raised in the UN assessment and to implement its recommendations without delay. This includes allowing UN independent experts access to Xinjiang and to other regions of China to assess conditions.

“Canada will continue to work with its international partners to address the situation in Xinjiang and to ensure the Chinese government is held accountable for its actions.”