Part of: Prelims and GS-II – Human rights; International Relations
Context 43 countries have called on China to “ensure full respect for the rule of law” for the Muslim Uyghur community in Xinjiang, in a statement read at the United Nations.
The declaration was signed by the USA and several European and Asian member states and others.
They accused China of a list of human rights violations against the Uyghurs, including torture, forced sterilisation and forced disappearances.
Who are Uyghur Muslims?
Uyghurs, are a minority Turkic ethnic group originating from and culturally affiliated with the general region of Central and East Asia.
The Uyghurs are recognized as native to the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of the People’s Republic of China.
China rejects the idea of them being an indigenous group
Since 2016, it is estimated that over a million Uyghurs have been detained in Xinjiang re-education camps.(UN)
International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ), the main feature of the camps is to ensure adherence to Chinese Communist Party ideology.
