UNHRC's Integrity at Stake: Dolkun Isa Sounds Alarm on China's Influence

Dolkun Isa, former President of the World Uyghur Congress, warned about China's growing influence in the UNHRC, claiming Beijing is manipulating the Council to avoid scrutiny. Isa highlighted the defeat of a 2022 proposal addressing the Uyghur crisis, underscoring the need for democratic nations to counter China's dominance over global human rights mechanisms.

As the 58th session of the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) kicked off on February 24, Dolkun Isa, a prominent human rights advocate and former President of the World Uyghur Congress, expressed grave concerns about China's expanding influence within the global body. Isa accused authoritarian regimes, notably China, of exploiting international organizations to suppress examination of their human rights practices.

He cited China's use of economic clout and diplomatic maneuvers to escape accountability. "The actions by authoritarian countries like China have severely undermined the UNHRC, allowing them a platform to portray a distorted image of human rights in their nation," Isa asserted. He detailed a 2022 incident where a proposal addressing the Uyghur crisis foundered due to opposition from 19 nations, many recipients of Chinese aid, despite support from 17 countries.

Isa also criticized the lack of response from Muslim-majority states, accusing China's discriminatory and genocidal actions against Uyghur Muslims of going unchallenged. He lamented the UNHRC's waning credibility, noting the U.S. withdrawal opened doors for authoritarian influences like China to consolidate their grip, jeopardizing the Council's mission to hold violators accountable. He warned that China's rising dominance could lead to a world order favoring authoritarian narratives, urging democratic countries to push back against Beijing's power play and restore global human rights credibility.

(With inputs from agencies.)