The following joint civil society statement was barred from publication by the UN, as confirmed by OHCHR on Sept. 4, 2019, despite being submitted as a NGO written statement according to standard protocol.
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Joint Appeal to Defend NGO Rights and to Protest China’s Anti-Muslim Racism
China Violates Human Rights Council Rules in Attempt to Silence Legitimate Criticism of Its Anti-Muslim Racism
We, the undersigned coalition of more than 100 NGOs, urge Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, High Commissioner for Human Rights Michele Bachelet, Human Rights Council President Coly Seck, Member States and Civil Society to condemn China’s baseless attacks on Hillel Neuer, Executive Director of United Nations Watch, and to defend the right of all NGOs to speak out for human rights victims at Human Rights Council sessions.
On 19 March 2019, at the 40th Session of the UNHRC, under the Agenda Item 9 General Debate on racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related forms of intolerance, Mr. Neuer took the floor to read an Oral Statement on behalf of Ingénieurs du Monde, a NGO with ECOSOC consultative status.
The speech criticized China for arbitrarily detaining 1 million Muslim Uighurs in extra-legal “re-education camps.”
Before Mr. Neuer could even finish this sentence, the Chinese delegation aggressively sought to shut down the speech, banging loudly and interrupting with three points of order on the spurious claim that a speech for 1 million Muslim victims was unrelated to the topic of racism, discrimination, xenophobia and intolerance.
In response to the first interruption, Human Rights Council President Coly Seck stated that “we are considering Item 9 on the Agenda on racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related forms of intolerance,” and he then admonished Mr. Neuer “to stick to the agenda item.” Regrettably, this initial response by the UNHRC President implied an acceptance of China’s baseless objection and interruption, and sent the message that Mr. Neuer should stop speaking about the 1 million Muslim victims in China.
However, upon the next two interruptions, President Seck defended Mr. Neuer’s right to speak on China’s abuse of Uighur Muslims under Item 9. In the end, President Seck reprimanded China, stating: “I’d like to recall that under the agenda item we’re discussing, speakers can make reference to specific country situations. Please prevent disturbing the proceedings of the room the next time.”
Having failed on its Points of Order, China proceeded to rudely interrupt Mr. Neuer’s speech by loudly banging on the table. This violated Rule 113 of the Rules of Procedure, which allows delegations to make Points of Order, and to appeal a presidential ruling by calling for a vote, but not to harass and interrupt a legitimate statement by another delegate.
Indeed, there was no legal basis at all for China’s interruptions, as the speech in defense of an oppressed ethnic and religious minority in China was well within the scope of Item 9, which covers “racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related forms of intolerance.”
The speech was also fully consistent with the UN Declaration on Racism (“any restriction on the complete self-fulfillment of human beings…which is based on racial or ethnic considerations is contrary to the principle of equality in dignity and rights…[and] cannot be admitted”); the Convention on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (“each State Party undertakes to engage in no act or practice of racial discrimination against persons, groups of persons or institutions and to ensure that all public authorities and public institutions, national and local, shall act in conformity with this obligation”); and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (“the law shall prohibit any discrimination and guarantee to all persons equal and effective protection against discrimination on any ground such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status”). Moreover, it is noted that in this same debate on 19 March, as on all previous occasions under Item 9, other country and NGO speakers highlighted specific country situations.
Accordingly, the conduct of the Chinese delegation during that debate constituted an outrageous attempt to silence a legitimate statement for victims by a human rights activist at the United Nations and violated numerous UN rules and procedures regarding the long-established right of NGOs to participate in Council sessions, the origin of which was established under Article 71 of the UN Charter.
Furthermore, the right of NGOs with ECOSOC consultative status to participate in Council sessions, including through oral presentations, is expressly recognized under GA Resolution 60/251, the Council’s founding document (paragraph 11); HRC Resolution 5/1 on Institution Building (paragraph 3); and ECOSOC Resolution 1996/31 on NGO participation (Paragraphs 27-32). This right is affirmed by the Council on its website and in its Practical Guide for NGO Participants, both of which clearly state that such NGOs may “make oral interventions” and “participate in debates, interactive dialogues, panel discussions and informal meetings,” among other things. In this case, Ingénieurs du Monde followed all of the relevant HRC procedures to register for a speaking slot for the Item 9 debate, and to accredit Mr. Neuer to deliver the relevant statement. We remind all stakeholders that it is a long-established practice that a NGO may accredit the representative of another NGO to read a statement on their behalf. This is an essential right for NGOs who may be unable to attend a given session in Geneva, due to a lack of material means or because of physical disabilities. To undermine this long-established right would amount to a form of discrimination and a gross infringement of the basic rights of NGOs.
In addition to violating the above rules, China’s attempt to silence Mr. Neuer also constituted a brazen violation of the right of all NGO representatives to freedom of expression, as guaranteed under Art. 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and Art. 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. We remind all stakeholders that NGOs are essential to the work of the Council.
Accordingly, we call on Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, High Commissioner for Human Rights Michele Bachelet, Human Rights Council President Coly Seck, Member States and Civil Society to vigorously defend the rights of NGOs to speak out at the United Nations, and in particular at the Human Rights Council, on behalf of human rights victims worldwide, and to immediately reject and condemn any attempt by a UN member state, including China in this case, to interrupt and censor such legitimate NGO statements, or to engage in any form of wrongful pressure or intimidation against any NGO or their representatives.
Sincerely,
- Hillel C. Neuer, Executive Director, United Nations Watch, Switzerland
- Souad Talsi MBE, Founder, Al-Hasaniya Moroccan Women’s Project, United Kingdom
- Mia Hasenson-Gross, Executive Director, Rene Cassin, United Kingdom
- Valle Thierry, Président, Coordination des Associations et des Particuliers pour la Liberté de Conscience, France
- Marie-Anne Delahaut, President-CEO, Millennia 2025 Women & Innovation Foundation, Belgium
- Jean Paul Laurent, Founder-CEO, Unspoken Smiles Foundation, France
- Avvy Go, Clinic Director, Metro Toronto Chinese & Southeast Asian Legal Clinic, Canada
- Temour Shah, Program Coordinator, Rural Community Development Program, Pakistan
- Mariam Ina Koita, Vice President, Inter-Action Globale, Mali
- Charles Phillips, Executive Director, Service For Peace, Inc., United States
- Erold Elcius , Président, Organisation Conseillère pour le Développement Économique et Social de la Commune des Gonaïves, Haiti
- Jenifer White, Founder, Project 1948 Foundation, United States
- Ashot Ayrapetyan, Director, Center for Interethnic Cooperation, United States
- Kenneth Amoateng, Executive Director, Abibimman Foundation, United States
- Tall Lacina, Président, Comité/Club Unesco Universitaire pour la Lutte Contre la Drogue et autres pandémies (CLUCOD), Côte D’Ivoire
- Margaret Mayce, Main Representative, Dominican Leadership Conference, United States
- Karim D. Philips, President, Young Heart Foundation, Ghana
- Kwegueng Emile, Secrétaire Exécutif, Build Africa, Cameroon
- Ramakrishnan Nagarajan, Executive Director, Ideosync Media Combine, India
- François Simon Pierre Ngan Tonye, CEO, Association des Ressortissants et Amis D’Eseka, Cameroon
- Lukman Adefolahan, Lead Coordinator, 21st Century Community Empowerment for Youth and Women Initiative, Nigeria
- Aisha Ahmed, Chairperson, Murna Foundation, Nigeria
- Mange Ram Adhana, President, Association for Promotion Sustainable Development, India
- Rose Ngalula, Co-Founder, Action Communautaire Femme et Enfant, Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Padonou Sourou Fabrice, Président, Mouvement des Jeunes pour le Réveil et le Développement (MJRD), Bénin
- Damien Noma, Executive Director, Association Respect Cameroun, Cameroon
- Dr. Dominic Dixon, Executive Director, More Trust, India
- Teh Francis, Director, Goodness and Mercy Missions Common Initiative Group, Cameroon
- Vera Da Ros, President, Brazilian Harm Reduction and Human Rights Network – REDUC, Brazil
- Pierrette J. Cazeau, President & Founder, Haiti Cholera Research Funding Foundation Inc., United States
- Rashid Anyetei Odoi, Executive Director, Free World Foundation (FWF), Ghana
- Marcel Saturnin Kouna, Président National, Association nationale de promotion et de protection des droits de l’homme, Cameroon
- Thierno Hamidou Balde, Executive Director, Zero Pauvre Afrique, Guinea
- Victor Amisi, Executive Director, Vision GRAM-International, Canada
- Dosse Sossouga, Executive Director, Amis des Étrangers au Togo (A.D.E.T), Togo
- Francis N. Nchu, Director, Community Development Volunteers for Technical Assistance – Cameroon, Cameroon
- Michael Enahoro, Executive Director, Excellent World Foundation LTD/GTE, Cameroon
- Roger Lokapatchu, Directeur Général, Association locale pour le développement intégral, Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Datuk Agung Sidayu, Chairman, Yayasan Pendidikan Indonesia, Indonesia
- Darren Harper, President, Maawandoon Inc., Canada
- Mohamed Hassan, CEO, Horn of Africa Voluntary Youth Committee (HAVOYOCO), Ethiopia
- Sylvanus Murray, President, Advocacy Initiative for Development (AID), United States
- Alan Owen, Chairman, British Nuclear Test Veterans Association, United Kingdom
- Samir Kumar Das, Advocate & Chairman, International Movement for Advancement of Education Culture Social & Economic Development (IMAECSED), India
- Sandeep Ahuja, CEO, Operation ASHA, India
- Patrick Spencer, Executive Director, Cork Forest Conservation Alliance, United States
- Iba Sarr, Directeur des Programmes, Rencontre Africaine pour la défense des droits de l’homme, Senegal
- Sudaba Shiraliyeva, Director, “Women and Modern World” Social Charitable Centre, Azerbaijan
- Dr. Alan Goldsmith, President, The Jewish Renaissance Foundation, United States
- Banding Gassama, Président, Cause Première, Senegal
- Anne Trehern, Secrétaire Générale, United Villages (Villages Unis), Switzerland
- Botnaru Petru, Director, Terra-1530, Moldova
- Hermann Koffi Kouame, Président, Change Human’s Life, Côte D’Ivoire
- Prof. Rajendra Pratap Gupta, President, Disease Management Association of India, India
- Getro Mathieu, Executive Director, Action Secours Ambulance (ASA), Haiti
- Lucica Humenuc, President, SIRDO – Romanian Independent Society of Human Rights, Romania
- Omonade Kejekpo, Executive Director, Poverty Alleviation for the Poor Initiative, Nigeria
- Eskinder Kebede, Managing Director, Ethiopia Change and Development Association, Ethiopia
- Robert Kibaya, Executive Director, Kikandwa Rural Communities Development Organization (KIRUCODO), Uganda
- Godwin Osung, Founder, Godwin Osung International Foundation, Inc. (African Project), Nigeria
- Ahmed Pathan, President & CEO, Green Planet, India
- McShimana Jacobs Akem, Project Director, I.D.S-Intercommunity Development Social Organisation, Nigeria
- Churchill Butalia, Coordinator, Alliance for Development and Population Services (ADEPS), Kenya
- Descartes Mponge Malasi, Executive Director, ACADHOSHA (Action des Chrétiens Activistes des Droits de l’homme à Shabunda), Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Fongoh Eric, General Coordinator, ICENECDEV-International Centre for Environmental Education and Community Development, Cameroon
- Moussa Gawi, Président, Association Mauritanienne Pour la Promotion des Droits de L’homme AMPDH, Mauritania
- Anand Karunakaran, Founder, Child Care Consortium, India
- Lufuluabo Kabambi Thierry, Président, African Development Assistance Consult, Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Mamadou Sarr, Secrétaire Exécutif, Association Nationale des Partenaires Migrants, Senegal
- Tohfa Eminova, President, Azerbaijani American Cultural Association in Florida, United States
- Ataurrahman Khan, Executive President, National Women’s Welfare Society Darwha, India
- Mbuh Raphael Mbuh, President, FI.MO.AT.C.I.G, Cameroon
- Prince Charles Sackeyfio, President, Emperor Gaza International Foundation, Ghana
- Rana Abdul Sattar, CEO & President, World Welfare Association, Pakistan
- Obuesi Phillips, Global Director, Community Agenda for Peace, Nigeria
- Teresa Kotturan, Main NGO Representative, Sisters of Charity Federation, United States
- Romuald Djivoessoun, Directeur Exécutif, Autre Vie, Benin
- Tijani Abdlumumin, Senior Youth Coordinator, Asabe Shehu Yar Adua Foundation, United States
- Hazel Dukes, Links NGO Representative, The Links Inc., United States
- Yves Laurin, President, French Committee for South Africa (Comité Français Pour l’Afrique du Sud), France
- Shola Mese, Founder, Shola Mese Foundation, Nigeria
- Spanana Ole Meitiaki, Program Coordinator, Ilngwesi Afya Program, Kenya
- Emil Kambala, Secretary, Fondation Nehemie, Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Braema Mathi, President, Singapore Working Group for an ASEAN Human Rights Mechanism, Singapore
- Sheldon Clare, President, Canada’s National Firearms Association, Canada
- Germaine Tuamba, CEO, Centre d’Accompagnement des Filles Désoeuvrées, Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Muzaffer Baca, Vice President, International Blue Crescent Relief and Development Foundation, Turkey
- Bikash Rautray, Secretary, Association for Rural Area Social Modification, Improvement and Nestling (ARASMIN), India
- Taz Mukorombindo, CEO, Canterbury & New Zealand Business Association Inc., New Zealand
- Mohammad Safi Ul Alam, Founder & CEO, Youth Foundation of Bangladesh, Bangladesh
- Lakshmikanta Singh, Executive Director, Ethnic Community Development Organization (ECDO), Bangladesh
- Amjad Khan, President, Ekta Welfare Society, India
- Mohammed Masood Mohiuddin, Chairman, AIM Education & Research Society, India
- Moussa Mahamadou, Coordinator, Association pour la Lutte contre le Travail des Enfants au Niger (ALTEN), Niger
- Salim Khan, General Secretary, Social Development and Management Society, India
- Télesphore Balonga, Président, Centre d’Accueil et de Volontariat pour Orphelins Abandonnés et Handicapés du Cameroun (CAVOAHCAM), Cameroon
- Gugulethu Resha, Intern – Youth Programs & Capacity Building, South African Institute of International Affairs, South Africa
- Alain Ilunga wa Ilunga, Président, Bureau Pour la Croissance Intégrale et la Dignité de L’enfant, Democratic Republic of Congo
- Gertrude Kenyangi, Executive Director, Support for Women in Agriculture and Environment (SWAGEN), Uganda
- Abdoullah Bazyar, President, Internationale Gemeinschaft für die Unterstützung von Kriegsopfern e.V., Germany
- Altin Hazizaj, Director, Children’s Human Rights Centre of Albania (CRCA) / End Child Prostitution, Child Pornography and Trafficking of Children for Sexual Purposes, Inc. (ECPAT ALBANIA), Albania
- Souvi Sidi Batt, Président, L’observatoire Maurtanien des Droits de l’homme et de la Démocratie, Mauritania
- Rachel Nisbet, Communications, International Rainwater Harvesting Alliance (IRHA), Switzerland
- Imtiaz Ahmed, Chief Executive, DESSI International, Pakistan
- Henry Appiah, International Coordinator, City 2000 Youth Action International, Ghana
- Philippe Nanga, Coordinateur, Association Un Monde Avenir, Cameroon
- David Borden, Executive Director, DRCNet Foundation, United States
- Nick Kent, National Director, Students for Sensible Drug Policy – Australia, Australia
- Paul Usi Elomien, Executive Director, Community Social Welfare Foundation, Nigeria
- Emmanuel Sevidzem, Managing Director, Technical Centre for Fine Art and Computer Studies CIG Group (TechCeFaCos), Cameroon
- Abul Lkair, President, Mankind Welfare Organization, Pakistan
- Babatope Babalobi, Executive Director, Bread of Life Development Foundation, Nigeria
- Awoussi Koura-Napo, Présidente, Association Togolaise “Femmes et Sida” (ATFS), Togo
- Davy Koller, President, Österreichische Lebens – Rettungs – Gesellschaft Bundesverband Österreich (OLRG), Austria
- Nathaniel Odudele, President, African Heritage Foundation Nigeria, Nigeria
- Abayomi Olatunji, Executive Director, Entrepreneurship Development and Support Initiative, Nigeria
- Moka Gabriel, President, Kalipa Foundation for Development (Fondation Kalipa pour le Développement), Democratic Republic of Congo
- Mashario Sakata, Chairperson of the Board, Japan Asia Cultural Exchanges (JACE), United States
- Kofi Kankam, President & CEO, Elizka Relief Foundation, Ghana
- Hilaire Bell, Présidente, Cercle de Recherche sur les Droits et les Devoirs de la Personne Humaine (CRED), Switzerland
- Sylvia Briggs, CEO, Women Educators Association of Nigeria, Nigeria
- Cheikh Mohamed Vadhel Cheikh, Coordinator, Association Mauritanienne pour la Transparence et le Développement (ATED), Mauritania
- Dr. George-Hill Anthony, CEO, Niger Delta Budget Monitoring Group, Nigeria
- Yvonne Singleton Davis, Founder, Sister to Sister One in the Spirit, Inc., United States
- Jay Sorensen, President, Kids First Fund, United States
- Phillip Phinn, President General, Word of Life Christian Fellowship, Jamaica
- Ann Fordham, Executive Director, International Drug Policy Consortium (IDPC), United Kingdom
- Dopé Adjoko Benedicta Koudadje-Assagba, Directrice Exécutive, Credo Action, Togo
- Neil Belanger, Executive Director, BC Aboriginal Network on Disability Society, Canada
- Didier Kiyanga Mundonda, President, Coup de Pouce, Democratic Republic of Congo
- Ibrahim Salih, Director, Local Action Organization, Sudan
- David Younus, Chairman, All Christians Welfare Association, Pakistan
- John Lupoli, Archbishop, World Council of Independent Christian Churches, United States
- Tiffany Taylor, President, Sociologists for Women in Society, United States
- Nicholas Kunga, Director, Volunteers For Africa, Kenya
- Rami Harajli, Managing Director, Medrar Foundation, Lebanon
Source : https://unwatch.org/defendmuslimsfromchina/
