China expresses concern over intolerance against minorities, migrants
Updated 17:29, 28-Sep-2019
CGTN

On behalf of 53 countries, China on Tuesday delivered a joint statement to express concern over the growing intolerance against ethnic minorities and migrants nurtured by racism, racial discrimination, terrorism, extremism, hate speech and Islamophobia. 

Chen Xu, head of Chinese mission to UN at Geneva, delivered the speech at the ongoing 42nd session of the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council.  

"Some countries have not taken appropriate measures to prevent the resurgence of neo-Nazism and racial superiority exacerbation and put an end to racial discrimination and hate speech," the statement said. 

"They even try to justify these manifestations under the pretext of freedom of expression."

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A boat carrying migrants stranded in the Strait of Gibraltar, September 8, 2018. /VCG Photo

A boat carrying migrants stranded in the Strait of Gibraltar, September 8, 2018. /VCG Photo

Migrants vs. Refugees 

Chen stressed that the countries are concerned "when both children and adult migrants are held in detention without due process safeguards, leading to the separation of the children from their families." 

"Migrant children could bear scars for life from detention. It is imperative to look after the best interest of children in accordance with the Convention on the Rights of the Child in this regard," he said. 

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Chen said that some countries criminalize the work of humanitarian rescue vessels and search planes, restrict ethnic minorities from normal commercial activities, close the markets owned by particular ethnic minorities, and keep asylum-seekers in offshore detention centers in harsh conditions, where suicide and self-harm take place at a persistently high rate. 

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China urges countries to fulfill human rights obligations

"We call upon the Human Rights Council to pay more attention to the migrants' rights of life, work, health, education and dignity. We urge those countries to fulfill their international human rights obligations, stop policies that violate human rights and fully implement the Durban Declaration and Program of Action," Chen said. 

"We urge them to take credible steps to combat racism, racial discrimination, populism, hate speeches and xenophobia," he added. 

On a similar note, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi also on Monday called for more efforts to help people in humanitarian crisis feel love and hope at the UN headquarters in New York. 

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Rescued migrants rest aboard the vessel Ocean Viking as it waits in international waters between Malta and the southern Italian island of Linosa for access to a port, August 9 and 12, 2019. /Reuters Photo

Rescued migrants rest aboard the vessel Ocean Viking as it waits in international waters between Malta and the southern Italian island of Linosa for access to a port, August 9 and 12, 2019. /Reuters Photo

EU actions

Five European Union countries including Germany, France, Italy, Malta and Finland on Monday agreed a new scheme to distribute migrants rescued at the Mediterranean Sea in a deal aimed at relieving the pressure on southern EU states. 

The plan agreed will be presented to all 28 EU nations on October 8, with officials anxious to sign up as many states as possible and resolve one of the most contentious issues the bloc has faced in recent years.

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(Cover: A general view of the United Nations Human Rights Council meeting room, June 26, 2019. /VCG Photo)