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The World Uyghur Congress and Uyghur Human Rights Project Issue Alternative Report to the Committee Against Torture

The World Uyghur Congress and Uyghur Human Rights Project Issue Alternative Report to the Committee Against Torture

Press Release – For immediate release
2 November 2015
Contact: World Uyghur Congress
 www.uyghurcongress.org
0049 (0) 89 5432 1999 or [email protected]

wuc-uhrp report photo

WUC & UHRP  Ahead of China’s review of its 5th Periodic Report to the Committee Against Torture, the World Uyghur Congress (WUC) and the Uyghur Human Rights Project (UHRP) have jointly submitted an alternative report for consideration by the Committee that aims to provide additional and alternative information  regarding the continued use of torture, particularly against Uyghur detainees in East Turkestan.

The report will be reviewed by the Committee members prior to the treaty body’s 56th session in Geneva later in November, where WUC representatives will be present provide a voice for Uyghurs who are routinely abused in police custody by Chinese officials.

The report outlines some of the most concerning details of alleged instances and threats of torture as well as issues with China’s implementation of the Convention itself. Major areas of concern that are addressed in the report:

  • Definition of torture under Chinese law
  • Police and security training/methods
  • Torture in pre-trial detention – forced confessions/evidence through torture
  • Violence and intimidation aimed at lawyers and human rights defenders
  • Draft laws on terrorism and anti-extremism and their potential for abuses and torture
  • Documented cases of torture of Uyghur detainees

The report looks to provide information to the Committee that would otherwise not be present in the collective reports submitted at each review. The report contains detailed analysis of China’s refusal to fall in line with the definition of torture offered by the Committee, the lack of criminalization of torture when committed by those not acting in official state capacity, China’s obligation to uphold jus cogens norms even when conducting counter-terror operations, the lack of protection of pre-trial detainees, the problem of forced extraditions and the likelihood of torture thereafter, and the admissibility of evidence obtained through the use of torture.

The report will also serve as the basis for the WUC’s participation in the 56th session of the Committee in which China’s own report will be reviewed with the input of all those organizations that have also submitted information for review.

The report can be found here.