Chair,

The European Union and its Member States thank the Assistant Secretary-General for her presentation. We welcome the release of the report on China’s Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, which adds to the existing body of evidence on this issue. We reiterate our grave concerns over the human rights situation of Uyghurs and persons belonging to other minorities in Xinjiang. According to the report, some of these serious human rights violations may constitute international crimes, in particular crimes against humanity. The EU underscores the need for justice and accountability and urges China to cooperate with the OHCHR on how to implement the report’s recommendations.

We congratulate Mr Volker Turk on his appointment as High Commissioner and reaffirm our support for the independence of his Office’s mandate. The EU calls upon all States to fully cooperate with the OHCHR and the human rights mechanisms including by granting access to their territories.

Mr. Chair,

At a time when the international community is witnessing Russia’s war of oppression against Ukraine, human rights are under attack in many parts of the world, from Afghanistan to Myanmar and from Ethiopia to the occupied territory of Ukraine. The UN must remain a lighthouse for universal human rights. We acknowledge in that regard the progress made by OHCHR and the wider UN System in terms of prevention of human rights abuses and of capacity building, as documented in the annual report of the High Commissioner. We welcome inter alia the good work done on the implementation of the due diligence policy and the compliance frameworks, for which you receive our support in a joint project with the African Union.

Madame Assistant Secretary-General,

The report provides examples of technical assistance you provide to support the design and implementation of transitional justice processes. These are difficult and lengthy processes. What is your assessment of successful recent TJ processes and where do you see the need to launch new processes?

Also, could you update us on the implementation of the human rights dimension of the Common Agenda Report?

We will address the issue of reprisals in the interactive dialogue we will have the honour to have with you tomorrow.

I thank you.