Will UN rights chief probe Xinjiang abuses during China visit?

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UN Rights Chief to Visit Xinjiang Amid Calls for Investigation into Abuses

UN human rights chief Michelle Bachelet has secured an agreement for a visit to China, scheduled for May, which will include a stop in the Xinjiang region. While the visit aims to address human rights concerns, including the arrest of activists, the specific mandate regarding the investigation of alleged abuses against Uyghurs in Xinjiang remains unclear based on available information. Activist groups have strongly urged Bachelet to publish her findings on these alleged violations.
Visit to Include Xinjiang Region

The agreement for Bachelet's visit to China, foreseen in May, explicitly includes a stop in Xinjiang. This region has been the focus of international concern, with activists reporting the mass detention of approximately one million Uyghurs. China, however, maintains that these facilities are vocational centres aimed at combating extremism and stated in late 2019 that all individuals had completed their programs.
Context of Previous UN Human Rights Visits

This upcoming trip will mark the first visit to China by a UN High Commissioner for Human Rights since Louise Arbour's visit in 2005. Bachelet's advance team is scheduled to depart in April to facilitate preparations for the visit. China's ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva, Chen Xu, has welcomed the visit, indicating that China will collaborate with Bachelet's office to ensure its successful preparation.
Activist Demands for Report Release

A significant contingent of nearly 200 activist groups has issued an open letter calling on Bachelet to release her findings concerning alleged abuses against Uyghurs. These groups have expressed concern over what they describe as the "relative silence" of the UN Human Rights Office regarding these alleged grave violations, with organisations such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch being signatories. They are demanding that Bachelet's report be published to signal accountability under international law.

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Will UN rights chief probe Xinjiang abuses during China visit?

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