Volker Türk, the UN Human Rights Chief, speaking at the UN Human Rights Council, said that his office continues to receive reports of serious abuses against Uyghurs, while also warning of cultural and civil rights violations in Tibet and Hong Kong.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk, speaking in Geneva on 18 June 2025 during the 59th session of the UN Human Rights Council, delivered a strong statement criticizing China’s ongoing human rights violations. Emphasizing the urgent need for “the strongest possible defence of international law and human rights,” Türk voiced deep concerns about the situation in Xinjiang (East Turkistan), Hong Kong, and Tibet.
“I continue to engage directly with China on a wide range of issues,” Türk stated. “I am concerned about the lack of progress on much-needed legal reform to ensure compliance with international human rights law.”
“We Continue to Receive Worrying Reports of Violations in Xinjiang”
He also regretted that the cases raised by his Office have yet to see any resolution. “My Office continues to receive worrying reports of violations in Xinjiang,” he said, referencing “undue prison sentences, incommunicado detention, and restrictions on fundamental rights.”
Turning to Hong Kong, Türk warned that “the continued application of national security laws raises serious concerns about the shrinking of civic space.” He also raised alarm over Tibet, noting “ongoing infringements on cultural and other rights.”
“If Your Office Refuses to Address the Report, How Can Any Progress Be Expected?”
Enver Can, senior activist and founding chairman of the İlham Tohti Initiative, made the following remarks to Uyghur News: “It is difficult to understand why the so-called ‘Michelle Bachelet’ report from the UN Rapporteurs has not yet been placed on the UNHCR’s agenda. It’s been almost three years since the report was made public, indicating that crimes against humanity may have been committed in the Xinjiang region.”
Can added, “Our question is: if your Office refuses to address the report, how can any progress on this matter be expected?”
Türk Urges China to Release Detainees and Respect Human Rights
Calling for immediate action, Türk urged the Chinese authorities “to release all individuals detained for exercising their rights, and to align legislation and policies with international human rights law.”
Türk’s remarks signal continued international scrutiny over China’s treatment of Uyghurs in East Turkistan, the erosion of freedoms in Hong Kong, and the suppression of cultural rights in Tibet.
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