China's UPR Report Consideration at UN Human Rights Council (English), March 20, 2014

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• published: 21 Mar 2014
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On March 20, 2014, the Human Rights Council considered China's 2013 Universal Periodic Review outcome report, a comprehensive evaluation of its human rights obligations under the UN system. During the session, China challenged an NGO's right to observe a moment of silence for rights defender Cao Shunli (曹顺利), who had died less than one week earlier, and objected when another NGO began to deliver a joint statement, arguing that accredited NGOs may only reference other accredited organizations. At the end of the session, the Human Rights Council formally adopted the outcome report for China's second UPR, and China accepted 204 of the 252 recommendations, stating that 31 have already been implemented, 8 are being implemented, and the rejected recommendations were "not practicable and were at odds with realities in China." Introductory Remarks: • China on its official position on the recommendations it accepted and rejected @ 01:25-16:15 Country Comments: • Cuba @16:54 • Djibouti @ 18:32 • Egypt @ 19:15 • Eritrea @ 20:35 • United States @ 20:55 • Gabon @ 23:36 • Germany @ 24:57 • India @ 26:40 • Iran @ 28:04 • Ireland @ 29:30 • Laos People's Democratic Republic @ 31:07 • Lebanon @ 32:17 • Sudan @ 33:52 NGO Comments: • International Service for Human Rights (ISHR) @35:57. ISHR calls for moment of silence @37:22. • China calls for point of order, challenging NGO right to observe silence @37:35. Floor vote on whether Council President can defer until after the session the decision on whether ISHR has right to observe silence: • Canada @ 40:54 Yes • Cuba @ 4:48: No • Saudi Arabia @ 43:00 No • United States @ 44:01 Yes • Greece @ 44:31 Yes • United Kingdom @ 45:14 Yes • Algeria @ 45:40 No • Vietnam @ 45:28 No • Germany @ 47:17 Yes • Estonia @ 47:53 Yes • Morocco @ 48:25 No • South Africa@ 49:33 No • France @ 50:29 Yes • Iran @ 50:52 No • Austria @ 51:47 Yes • Pakistan @ 52:29 No • Egypt @ 53:40 No • China @ 54:43 Calls for an immediate ruling. • President @ 55:00 Need to respect the democratic order of the council and hear from all delegations. • Venezula @ 56:05 No • Russian Federation @ 57:15 No • Ireland @ 58:17 No. Silence speaks volumes. • Maldives @ 59:00 No • President @ 1:00:14 Must take time to consider the decision after the meeting. • China @ 1:01:48 Requests a clear ruling from the council. • President @ 1:03:10 We will revisit the matter later on unless there is an objection to this decision. • China @ 1:04:56 Make a clear decision now. • President @ 1:05:47 The vote is on whether to defer until after the session the decision on whether ISHR has right to observe silence. • China @ 1:09:02 We are asking the council to make the a decision on what the NGO's are allowed to do. • President @ 1:10:00 We are taking a vote on my ruling not on NGO's speaking time. Result of vote: Decision to defer the point of order question rejected @ 1:10:00 • 13 Yes • 20 No • 12 Abstained Point of order: Germany @ 1:23:00 We have only decided that the President's decision to defer the point of order question (on the interpretation of a general comment and the manner in which it can be made) to the bureau was rejected. Requests a legal opinion from the bureau regarding the manner in which a comment can be made, and if a moment of silences fits into that interpretation, so that the council can make a decision in a decent manner. President @ 1:24:07 The underpinning intention of the ruling was not to get bogged down in a discussion about the rules of procedure, which would be difficult to deal with in one UPR session given that it is so complicated. Therefore, the President decided to give the floor to the next speaker. NGO Comments continue: The World Organization Against Torture @ 1:25:53 COC Nederland@ 1:28 China Disabled Persons' Federation @ 1:30:21 The International Federation of Human Rights Leagues (FIDH) @ 1:32:36 Begins comment with: "FIDH, Human Rights in China, and the International Campaign for Tibet supports the moment of silence..." Point of Order: China @ 1:32:57 Asks for clarification as to which organization is speaking. President and FIDH clarify that it is FIDH and its member organizations, Human Rights in China and The International Campaign for Tibet. China claims that the member organizations don't have consultative status with ECOSOC, and therefore cannot speak. President @ 1:34:32 FIDH does have consultative status with ECOSOC and therefore can speak. NGO Comments continue: Human rights Watch @ 1:45:32 Lawyers' Rights Watch Canada @ 1:47:38 Action Canada for Population and Development @ 1:49:50 Amnesty International @ 1:52:00 China Closing comments by Wu Hailong @ 1:54:18 Adoption @ 2:00:00