Western leaders are currently discussing whether to table a resolution at the United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC) for an independent probe into human rights abuses by China in Xinjiang, the Guardian has reported.

A meeting of the Human Rights Council (HRC) started last week in Geneva and will end on October 7.

A lot of options are being considered apart from the draft resolution for an independent inquiry. For example, talks are also on for calling a special session of the HRC to discuss the Xinjiang issue.

However, there is a possibility of the draft being defeated even before it reaches the discussion table, as China has already mobilised its allies.

On Tuesday, the Chinese ambassador in Geneva issued a statement, backed by 30 countries, accusing the UN rights office of acting without a mandate and warning of the exaggeration of “an existing trend to western polarisation and politicisation of human rights”.

Chinese ambassador Chen Xu said that any resolution is condemned to defeat.

The HRC has 47 member states, and according to the Guardian, only eight of the 30 signatories to the Chinese missive are the voting members.

Experts believe that a call for an independent probe may not see the light of the day as around 14 would be backing the draft, while roughly 15 to 18 nations supporting China’s stance.

The latest maneuverer by the Western leaders follows a report published by the outgoing UN human rights commissioner, Michelle Bachelet, on her last day in office– 31 August – saying that there was clear evidence of crimes against humanity committed by China during its suppression of Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang province.

This is for the first time that the UN came out with such a report making allegations against China.

The report claimed to have found evidence of systemic discrimination, mass arbitrary detention, torture, and sexual and gender-based violence.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Western leaders are currently discussing whether to table a resolution at the United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC) for an independent probe into human rights abuses by China in Xinjiang, the Guardian has reported.

Western leaders are currently discussing whether to table a resolution at the United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC) for an independent probe into human rights abuses by China in Xinjiang, the Guardian has reported. A meeting of the Human Rights Council (HRC) started last week in Geneva and will end on October 7. A lot of options are being considered apart from the draft resolution for an independent inquiry. For example, talks are also on for calling a special session of the HRC to discuss the Xinjiang issue. However, there is a possibility of the draft being defeated even before it reaches the discussion table, as China has already mobilised its allies. On Tuesday, the Chinese ambassador in Geneva issued a statement, backed by 30 countries, accusing the UN rights office of acting without a mandate and warning of the exaggeration of “an existing trend to western polarisation and politicisation of human rights”. Chinese ambassador Chen Xu said that any resolution is condemned to defeat. The HRC has 47 member states, and according to the Guardian, only eight of the 30 signatories to the Chinese missive are the voting members. Experts believe that a call for an independent probe may not see the light of the day as around 14 would be backing the draft, while roughly 15 to 18 nations supporting China’s stance. The latest maneuverer by the Western leaders follows a report published by the outgoing UN human rights commissioner, Michelle Bachelet, on her last day in office– 31 August – saying that there was clear evidence of crimes against humanity committed by China during its suppression of Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang province. This is for the first time that the UN came out with such a report making allegations against China. The report claimed to have found evidence of systemic discrimination, mass arbitrary detention, torture, and sexual and gender-based violence. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

West mulling to table resolution at UN against China’s abuses in Xinjiang

A cross-regional group of 39 United Nations member countries issued a stinging public rebuke on Tuesday of the Chinese government’s widespread human rights violations especially in Xinjiang and Tibet,&nbsp;and expressed grave concern at the impact of its new national security law on human rights in Hong Kong.

The United States, many European countries, Japan and others called on China to allow ''unfettered access''&nbsp;to Xinjiang for independent observers including UN human rights chief Michelle Bachelet and to urgently refrain from detaining Uighurs and members of other minorities.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/we-know-upto-3-million-uighurs-are-suffering-in-concentration-camps-says-dolkun-isa-president-world-uighur-congress-to-wion-323402">We know upto 3 million Uighurs are suffering in concentration camps, says Dolkun Isa, President World Uighur Congress to WION&nbsp;</a>

The 39 countries also urged China in a joint statement read at a meeting of the General Assembly's human rights committee, to ''uphold autonomy, rights and freedoms in Hong Kong, and to respect the independence of the Hong Kong judiciary.''

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“We are gravely concerned about the human rights situation in Xinjiang and the recent developments in Hong Kong,” German Ambassador Christoph Heusgen said in a statement on behalf of the group to the UN General Assembly’s Third Committee. “We call on China to respect human rights.”

Supporters of the German-led statement includes Britain, Canada, the United States, many European Union member states, Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Haiti, Honduras, Palau, and the Marshall Islands.

The joint statement endorses an unprecedented appeal from 50 UN human rights experts for the creation of a UN mechanism for monitoring human rights in China. A recent global civil society appeal from over 400 organisations echoed the experts’ call.

The rival statements spotlight tensions between China and the West over human rights. Those tensions have escalated especially between the United States and China, and include other issues including responsibility for the COVID-19 pandemic, trade, and Beijing's actions in the South China Sea.

A cross-regional group of 39 United Nations member countries issued a stinging public rebuke on Tuesday of the Chinese government’s widespread human rights violations especially in Xinjiang and Tibet, and expressed grave concern at the impact of its new national security law on human rights in Hong Kong.

A cross-regional group of 39 United Nations member countries issued a stinging public rebuke on Tuesday of the Chinese government’s widespread human rights violations especially in Xinjiang and Tibet, and expressed grave concern at the impact of its new national security law on human rights in Hong Kong. The United States, many European countries, Japan and others called on China to allow ''unfettered access'' to Xinjiang for independent observers including UN human rights chief Michelle Bachelet and to urgently refrain from detaining Uighurs and members of other minorities. Also read: We know upto 3 million Uighurs are suffering in concentration camps, says Dolkun Isa, President World Uighur Congress to WION The 39 countries also urged China in a joint statement read at a meeting of the General Assembly's human rights committee, to ''uphold autonomy, rights and freedoms in Hong Kong, and to respect the independence of the Hong Kong judiciary.'' “We are gravely concerned about the human rights situation in Xinjiang and the recent developments in Hong Kong,” German Ambassador Christoph Heusgen said in a statement on behalf of the group to the UN General Assembly’s Third Committee. “We call on China to respect human rights.” Supporters of the German-led statement includes Britain, Canada, the United States, many European Union member states, Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Haiti, Honduras, Palau, and the Marshall Islands. The joint statement endorses an unprecedented appeal from 50 UN human rights experts for the creation of a UN mechanism for monitoring human rights in China. A recent global civil society appeal from over 400 organisations echoed the experts’ call. The rival statements spotlight tensions between China and the West over human rights. Those tensions have escalated especially between the United States and China, and include other issues including responsibility for the COVID-19 pandemic, trade, and Beijing's actions in the South China Sea.

Around 40 nations rebuke China's human rights policies in Xinjiang, Tibet

In an attempt to silence one of China's most prominent human rights lawyers, a court has secretly sentenced Yu Wensheng for four years, his wife claimed.

The lawyers' wife said that she received a call from the prosecutor’s office in Xuzhou city in the eastern province of Jiangsu, informing her that the sentencing was announced behind closed doors early on Wednesday, reported The Guardian.&nbsp;

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The city court also deprived Yu of his political rights, which means he is barred from holding any public position or publishing and speaking publicly for three years.

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Yu is known as one of the most outspoken critics of the Chinese administration and has constantly highlighted politically sensitive issues despite the country's measures to stifle dissent.&nbsp;

A day after Yu, in an online post demanded the removal of Chinese President Xi Jinping and called for reforms in the country's legal and political system, he was detained by the police in January 2018 in Beijing and was later charged with inciting subversion of state power.

Yu was put into trial in 2019 secretly and his family has no knowledge about it.&nbsp;

During his detention of more than two years, the activist was not allowed to meet his lawyer or family and there were major concerns of torture during custody.&nbsp;

The UN working group also demanded in April last year that he should be released.

"He can’t accept this outcome. He would appeal," his wife said, demanding his unconditional release.

Yu, three months before his detention too, said that under Xi's rule, China has marched "backwards" and demanded his resignation. &nbsp;

In an attempt to silence one of China's most prominent human rights lawyers, a court has secretly sentenced Yu Wensheng for four years, his wife claimed. The lawyers' wife said that she received a call from the prosecutor’s office in Xuzhou city in the eastern province of Jiangsu, informing her that the sentencing was announced behind closed doors early on Wednesday, reported The Guardian.

In an attempt to silence one of China's most prominent human rights lawyers, a court has secretly sentenced Yu Wensheng for four years, his wife claimed. The lawyers' wife said that she received a call from the prosecutor’s office in Xuzhou city in the eastern province of Jiangsu, informing her that the sentencing was announced behind closed doors early on Wednesday, reported The Guardian. Also read | China charges two detained Canadians with suspected espionage The city court also deprived Yu of his political rights, which means he is barred from holding any public position or publishing and speaking publicly for three years. Also read | Australia sees China as main suspect in state-based cyberattacks, says report Yu is known as one of the most outspoken critics of the Chinese administration and has constantly highlighted politically sensitive issues despite the country's measures to stifle dissent. A day after Yu, in an online post demanded the removal of Chinese President Xi Jinping and called for reforms in the country's legal and political system, he was detained by the police in January 2018 in Beijing and was later charged with inciting subversion of state power. Yu was put into trial in 2019 secretly and his family has no knowledge about it. During his detention of more than two years, the activist was not allowed to meet his lawyer or family and there were major concerns of torture during custody. The UN working group also demanded in April last year that he should be released. "He can’t accept this outcome. He would appeal," his wife said, demanding his unconditional release. Yu, three months before his detention too, said that under Xi's rule, China has marched "backwards" and demanded his resignation.

China: Prominent human rights lawyer jailed for four years, says wife