British Law Firm Being Sanctioned and Responded on China's Stupidity: Independent Practitioners Can Have Different Views as Clients and Colleagues

Ministry of Foreign Affairs in China announced to sanction nine personnel and four entities, including British Essex Court Chambers. The chair of the Bar Human Rights Committee and Head of Cloisters Human Rights Practice Group, Schona Jolly, described the sanctions from China are “maladroit”, as lawyers are work in the same office but are all independent and might not agree with the views of clients and colleagues. She reiterated that China should accept the independent investigation by the international society on Xinjiang human rights problems instead of engaging “the diplomatic tactics”.

Schona Jolly also indicated that according to The Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers defined by the United Nations, lawyers' professional work should not be intimidated by sanctions and should not be implicated by clients. She stated that the sanctions to the whole lawyer office from China are “maladroit” as they work at the same office but are independent and self-employed practitioners, not necessarily sharing their professional points of views with other colleagues and clients. China sanctions the whole structure (i.e. the whole office) will only reflect their misunderstanding on the British law professional operations and the independence of lawyers.

Source: Stand News #Mar28

https://bit.ly/3cRJ1gd

#China #England #Sanctions #UnitedNations #Lawyer #Independence #InternationalSociety #Xinjiang #HumanRights #Diplomatic

Hungary prevents the EU from discussing Hong Kong related bills, members of the European Parliament denounced as “Trojan Horses” for China 
 
According to the report from South China Morning Post, EU withdrew the proposal which related to China tighten Hong Kong governance, since they cannot get the recognitions from 27 member countries. Reuters stated that the proposal was rejected by Hungary. Hungary is considered to have close relations with China, and it is one of the countries that have signed the “One Belt One Road” agreement, and China was the biggest overseas investor of Hungary in 2020. SCMP quoted from a member of the European Parliament, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban is being a “playing a double game” and attempting to profit by travelling between the EU and China. He described Hungary is “Trojan Horses” of China.  
 
SMCP stated, this proposal originally scheduled for EU action, to respond to the “major electoral reforms implemented in Hong Kong”, saying that these reforms are different from Hong Kong’s ultimate promise of universal elections. The proposal listed 12 concrete actions, including comprehensive review the relations between EU and Hong Kong, discuss China’s “Extradition Law” with member countries, coordinate relations with Hong Kong with the United Nations and G7, review the rule of law in Hong Kong, respond to the Hong Kong version of the “National Security Law” which also applicable to local people in European Union, and strengthen cooperation with civil society to promote freedom of speech, and liaise with business and civil society organisations to “build a new platform for Hong Kong”.  
 
This is not the first time that Hungary stops EU for taking actions to China. There were reports from last month which stated Hungary stops EU for announcing a statement condemning China’s implementation of the National Security Law in Hong Kong. The report quoted Senior EU diplomat and indicated, “The point of view of Hungary is, EU and China already have so many problems”.  
 
Source: Stand News #May06 

https://bit.ly/3uMxMfe

#Hungary #EuropeanUnion #HongKong #China #UnitedNations #SMCP #Reuters #ExtraditionLaw #NationalSecurityLaw  

Brinken: Asserting domestic jurisdiction doesn't grant the right to enslave, torture, disappear, and ethnically cleanse people

The United Nations Security Council held a video conference on Friday (7May). The US Secretary of State Antony Brinken said at the meeting, that asserting domestic jurisdiction doesn't grant any state the right to enslave, torture, disappear, and ethnically cleanse their people. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi accused countries of defining international rules as a “patent or privilege of the few.”

China chaired the rotating presidency of the United Nations Security Council for May and held this meeting on Friday to discuss multilateralism. The meeting was held online, on the theme of multilateral cooperation against the pandemic, global warming and other common threats.

Brinken stressed the need for countries to uphold international commitments, focus on human rights and respect for the principle of sovereign equality. “When U.N. member states – particularly permanent members of the Security Council – flout these rules and block attempts to hold accountable those who violate international law, it sends the message that others can break those rules with impunity,” he said, “Asserting domestic jurisdiction doesn't give any state a blank check to enslave, torture, disappear, ethnically cleanse their people, or violate their human rights in any other way.”

Source: The Stand News #May08

https://bit.ly/3yxmEW4

#AnotonyBrinken #UnitedNations #China #UnitedStates #HumanRights #Sovereign #Equality #Multilateral #UNSecurityCouncil

China Reportedly Urges UN Members to Boycott Xinjiang-Related Issues and Denounces Botched Anti-China Performance

According to Reuters, the UN representatives, such as Germany, the US and the UK originally planned to have a video meeting for Xinjiang human rights issues. It is reported that the Permanent Mission of China to the United Nations criticized the relevant activities for political motives and “anti-China” and sent letters requesting other member states to boycott activities.

Reuters gain a note by the Permanent Mission of China to the United Nations, criticizing the European member states such as Germany, United States, England, Australia, and Canada, to hold the activities of using “human rights issues” as a political tool to intervene China Xinjiang’s affairs, and to create division and turmoil in China’s development. China criticized that the related countries got addicted to advocate confrontation with China, stated those activities involved political motivation, and urged other member states not to participate in “anti-China activities”.

The report stated, ambassadors of the US, Germany, and the UK at the United Nations originally planned to speak out in the activity and invited the CEO of Human Rights Watch, Ken Roth, and the Secretary-General of Amnesty International, Agnes Callamard, for participation. It mainly discussed how the United Nations and civil society support and speak out for human rights issues of Xinjiang Turks and other ethnic minorities.

Source: Stand News #May08

https://bit.ly/3hP3rJh

#China #Beijing #Xinjiang #Uyghurs #Turks #Minorities #HumanRights #SexualAbused #AntiChina #UnitedNations #UN #UnitedStates #US #Germany #England #UK #Australia #Canada #HumanRightsWatch #AmnestyInternational

#ProtestArt
#Hongkongers in #Switzerland Protest Outside #UnitedNations Headquarters

On June 12, 2021, Hongkongers in Switzerland rallied in front of the United Nations headquarters in #Geneva.

On the second anniversary of the #AntiELAB protests, they displayed multilingual signs, calling on the United Nations and the world to support Hongkongers' fight for freedom.

June 12 was the day when the first large-scale police-civillian took place. The police excessive use of force has been condemned by the local as well as international bodies.

Source: #FirstHand #Jun12

#GlobalSupport #OverseasHongkongers #HongKongProtests #FightForFreedom

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https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/30108

Hongkongers in #Nottingham, #UK Commemorate #AntiELAB Protest Anniversary

https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/30121

The UN Human Rights Council meeting will be held next Monday, 60 members of Congress around the world jointly signed the urge Xinjiang genocide 
 
The 47th UN Human Rights Council meeting will be held next Monday, the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance in China indicated on Friday, there are over 60 members of Congress from 17 countries or regions wrote to Nazhat Shameem Khan, the President of the UN Human Rights Council (18June). As well as Foreign Ministers of Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom, they urged to the UN for establishing a commission of inquiry and investigating the allegations of Xinjiang China genocide and crimes against humanity.  
 
The co-signed letter was coordinated by the “Traditional Parliamentary Union on China Policy”, the co-signers are included 60 congressmen from Australia, Canada, United Kingdom, United States, Japan, and Europe. The letter stated, as members of the United Nations Human Rights Council, countries request foreign ministers to support the establishment of independent investigation committees and investigate Xinjiang’s violations of human rights of Uyghurs and other minorities, including allegations of genocide and crimes against humanity. Besides, the investigation commission also has the responsibility to identify the persons involved and hold them accountable. In addition, the committee should make recommendations to end the Chinese government’s violation of human rights in Xinjiang, and report to the UN Human Rights Council on a regular basis.  
 
Source: Stand News #Jun19
 
 https://bit.ly/2V2Ob2d
 
#UnitedNations #HumanRights #Genocide #Uyghurs #Xinjiang #China #Australia #UnitedStates #UnitedKingdom #Humanity  

China threatens to withhold vaccines, pressuring Ukraine to withdraw its support for Xinjiang investigation.

The Associated Press (AP) reports that Ukraine is pressured by China, which threaten to withhold COVID-19 vaccines from exported there, to withdraw from a statement by the UN Human Rights Council on sending independent observers to Xinjiang to investigate human rights issue. China welcomes the decision and said it reflects the spirit of independence.

Canadian Ambassador to the United Nations issued a statement at the UN Human Rights Council last Tuesday (22 June) on behalf of more than 40 countries, including Ukraine, urging China to allow immediate access for independent observers to Xinjiang. China warned that it would block at least 500,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines shipment to Ukraine unless it pulled out from the statement, according to the Associated Press. Ukraine withdrew from the statement on Thursday, and AP received written response from China saying that its “provision of vaccines and anti-epidemic materials to other countries is not meant to gain benefits from other countries and there isn’t any geopolitical purpose nor any political conditions attached.”

Source: Stand News #Jun27

https://bit.ly/3hw9qSZ

#Xinjiang #China #Ukraine #Independence #Democracy #HumanRights #UnitedNations #COVID #AssociatedPress #Canada #Vaccine

The UN General Assembly Condemns the Myanmar Military for Launching a Coup”, and Calls to Stop the Import of Weapons

The UN General Assembly rarely passed a non-legally binding resolution yesterday (18 June), condemning that the Myanmar military launched a coup and called for an arms embargo on Myanmar. The resolution indicates the international opposition to the junta government and demands Myanmar to resume the democratization process. After Belarus requested a recorded vote, resolution finally was passed with 119 agreed, one opposed, and 36 abstained. Belarus is the only one who voted objection.

The resolution requires the Myanmar military government to restore the democratization process and condemns their “excessive and deadly violence” since the coup. At the same time, the resolution calls on all countries to prevent the import of weapons into Myanmar and urges the military to respect the election result from November last year. It also requests that the military immediately release political figures, such as former President Win Min and State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi, and all people who had randomly been arrested. Moreover, the resolution demands that the military should stop treating peace protesters with violence and limiting the network and social media.

Source: Stand News #Jun19

https://bit.ly/3hUujr6

#UnitedNations #UN #Myanmar #Military #Belarus #Democracy #Violence #WinMin #AungSanSuuKyi

#China again blocks #WikimediaFoundation’s accreditation to World Intellectual Property Organization

//China today blocked the Wikimedia Foundation’s bid for observer status at the World Intellectual Property Organization (#WIPO) for the second timeafter the Foundation’s initial application in 2020. 

WIPO is the #UnitedNations (#UN) organization that develops international treaties on copyright, patents, trademarks and related issues. China was again the only country to object to the accreditation of the Wikimedia Foundation as an official observer.

The Foundation will reapply for official observer status in 2022, but it will only be admitted by WIPO if China decides to lift its blockade.

WIPO’s work, which shapes international rules that affect the sharing of free knowledge, impacts Wikipedia’s ability to provide hundreds of millions of people with information in their own languages

As in 2020, China’s statement falsely suggested that the Wikimedia Foundation was spreading disinformation via the independent, volunteer-led #WikimediaTaiwan chapter. The United States and the group of industrialized countries at WIPO — which also includes many European Union member states, Australia, Canada, the Holy See, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, Switzerland, Turkey, and the United Kingdom — expressed their support for the Foundation’s application. Since WIPO is generally run by consensus, any one country may veto accreditation requests by non-governmental organizations.//

Read full article:
https://wikimediafoundation.org/news/2021/10/05/china-again-blocks-wikimedia-foundations-accreditation-to-world-intellectual-property-organization/

Source: Wikipedia Foundation #Oct5

#FalseAccusation #CCPRules #Wikipedia #IntellectualProperty

The Australian Senate unanimously passed the Australian version of the Magnitsky Bill, which can sanction human rights violators and hackers

The #AustralianSenate unanimously passed the Autonomous Sanctions Amendment (Magnitsky-style and other Thematic Sanctions) Bill 2021.

This bill empowers the Australian government to sanction #HumanRights violators, corrupted officials, and hackers by the entry prohibition and freezing of assets.

#MarisePayne, Australian Minister of Foreign Affairs, states that they have to ensure the evildoers not to gain benefit from a democratic free world.

In the past, in addition to the mandatory #UnitedNations sanctions, #Australia will also follow its own diplomatic policy through Autonomous Sanctions Amendment Bill 2011.

As the bill uses “country” as a unit for sanction, the sanctions are distinct.

A human rights organization, #HumanRightsWatch, criticizes the current sanctions are “vague and non-permanent” and does not need the Australian government to examine human rights considerations.

The Australian Parliamentary Foreign Affairs and Defence and Trade Committee issued a report at the end of last year discussing whether Australia should establish the Magnitsky Bill.

Payne indicated in August this year that Australia would strengthen the laws of sanctions by empowering the government to impose economic sanctions and travel bans on individuals or entities that cause the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, major human rights violations, malicious network activities, and serious corruption. The bill is no longer setting up separate sanction plans on a national basis.

Source: Stand News #Dec02

https://bit.ly/3ebfCNB

#Australia #Sanction #HumanRights #Democracy

As U.N. Rights Chief Visits China, Some Fear She’ll Become Part of the Spin

The news was given prime placement in Chinese state media: The United Nations’ human rights chief, on her long-awaited visit to the country, had spoken with China’s leader, Xi Jinping. An article plastered across the website of Xinhua, the state news agency, relayed Mr. Xi’s declaration that the Chinese people were enjoying “unprecedented” rights. Then the article quoted the U.N. official, Michelle Bachelet.

“I admire China’s efforts and achievements in eradicating poverty, protecting human rights and realizing economic and social development,” she said, according to Xinhua.

Source: NT Times #May27

https://t.co/oWlZsGvlSp

#China #UnitedNations #XiJinping #Spin

#China, #Russia Again Veto UN Statement on #Myanmar Conflict

// On May 30, 2022, Russia and China once again wielded their vetoes to forestall the release of a United Nations Security Council (#UNSC) resolution expressing its concern over the escalating humanitarian crisis in Myanmar.

The two nations’ delegations reportedly objected to the wording of the statement
[...] authored by the United Kingdom’s delegation, the statement expressed its concern at the violence and serious humanitarian situation in Myanmar, 16 months on from the February 2021 coup that overthrew the government led by Aung San Suu Kyi. It also expressed misgivings about the “limited progress” on the implementation of ASEAN’s Five-Point Consensus peace plan.

According to other reports, the delegations from the U.K. and China blamed each other for the failure of the day-long negotiations. For the U.K. officials, Beijing was asking for “too much,” which led to the collapse of the negotiations, according to AFP. One of the sticking points for the Chinese delegation was the use of the word “limited” to refer to the progress on ASEAN’s Five-Point Consensus, which it suggested replacing with the word “slow.” A spokeswoman told AFP that China’s proposed wording was “factual but less condescending,” adding that “it’s a real shame” that there was no agreement.//

Source: The Diplomat #May30

#Regime #Dictatorship #UnitedNations

#UN rights committee seeks assurances hearing participants from Hong Kong won’t be targeted under security law

//The #UnitedNations #HumanRightsCommittee on Thursday began reviewing Hong Kong’s rights record for the first time since Beijing imposed its #nationalsecuritylaw, amid questions about whether groups making submissions to the meeting could fall foul of the legislation.

Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs #ErickTsang and several other top officials attended the meeting in Geneva via video link. In his opening speech, which lasted just under 20 minutes, Tsang said the government had done much to protect #humanrights in Hong Kong.

He also cited Chinese leader #XiJinping as saying the One Country, Two Systems policy has been working well, adding it was recognised by 1.4 billion Chinese people and the international community...

The UN Committee members, however, were not convinced the security law offered sufficient protections for people’s rights and freedoms.

“I note, honourable secretary, your comment about the events that precipitated this law, but I must observe that it was done overnight, without consultation, and bypassing the local legislature,” the committee’s vice chair Christopher Arif Bulkan said.

Another vice chair, Shuichi Furuya from Japan, expressed concern at the overarching nature and broad scope of the legislation. He said the committee had received reports about organisations overseas being requested by Hong Kong authorities to remove content that may be in violation of it....

The meeting of the committee of 18 international experts will continue on Friday and next Tuesday, while a closing session will take place on July 22, 2022.//

Read the full article:
https://hongkongfp.com/2022/07/07/un-committee-starts-first-review-of-hong-kong-human-rights-since-security-law/

Source: Hong Kong Free Press #Jul7

#NSL #FailedState #UnitedNations

Human Rights Organisation's Report Shows Hong Kong Ranked 4th Last

Source: The Chaser News #Jun22

#HumanRightsMeasurementInitiative #CivilRights #PoliticalRights #YangXiaoguang #ForeignAffairsMinistry #UnitedNations #UN #HumanRights

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Human Rights Organisation's Report Shows Hong Kong Ranked 4th Last

The Human Rights Measurement Initiative (#HRMI), an international organisation based in #NewZealand, published the 2022 Human Rights Report on June 21, assessing the civil and political rights in 30 districts.

The overall score of Hong Kong's "Empowerment" (which relates to general freedoms for citizens) slightly increased from 2021. Yet, it is still fourth last, while mainland China remains at the bottom of the ranking.

Meanwhile, the Special Representative of the Human Rights Department under China's Foreign Affairs Ministry, Yang Xiaoguang, attended the United Nations Human Rights Council on Wednesday (Jun 21), strongly criticising the UK, Australia and other countries and "anti-China organisations" for slandering China and repeating lies on the issues in #HongKong, #Xinjiang and #Tibet. He even claimed the development of human rights in Xinjiang and Tibet is "in the best period in history".

Source: The Chaser News #Jun22

https://bit.ly/43j1GrS

#HumanRightsMeasurementInitiative #CivilRights #PoliticalRights #YangXiaoguang #ForeignAffairsMinistry #UnitedNations #UN #HumanRights