Joint media release:

  • Senator Claire Chandler, Shadow Assistance Minister for Foreign Affairs

31 August 2024

 

It has been two years since the United Nations Human Rights Office published its report into disturbing human rights concerns in Xinjiang.

The report detailed alarming findings of human rights violations in the Xinjiang region of the People’s Republic of China, including possible crimes against humanity committed against Uyghurs and other ethnic minorities.

The Coalition reaffirms its support of the OHCHR recommendations calling for the release of all individuals arbitrarily deprived of their liberty in Xinjiang and for the UN to be given unrestricted access to Xinjiang to continue its independent investigation.

The Uyghur community in Australia has courageously been calling for the Australian Government to take strong action, with many holding grave fears for friends and family who have been arbitrarily detained in Xinjiang.

While many countries around the world, including our allies and security partners in the European Union, Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom have imposed targeted sanctions which include travel bans and freezing assets, the Albanese Government has failed to act in response to the report’s findings.

It is well past time that Australia joined with our international partners to take meaningful action in response to these serious human rights violations, and the Coalition once again offers our support to the Albanese Government to utilise the Magnitsky-style sanctions at its disposal.

[ENDS]