UN rights chief Bachelet eyes visit to China’s Xinjiang ‘this year’

Published June 21, 2021 06:16 PM

GENEVA, Switzerland — The UN rights chief said Monday she hoped she would finally be able to visit the Chinese region of Xinjiang this year and be given "meaningful access," amid "reports of serious human rights violations."

In recent months, China has stepped up a campaign on state media and with government-arranged tours

to counter the criticism of researchers, rights groups and former Xinjiang residents who say thousands of mosques have been targeted in a crackdown on the region's mostly Muslim Uighur people.

Speaking at the opening of the UN Human Rights Council's 47th session, Michelle Bachelet also voiced alarm at the "chilling impact" of a sweeping new national security law that took effect in Hong Kong a year ago. — Agence France-Presse

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