Your current location:HOME >opinions >Human rights group urges countries to join diplomatic boycott of Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics 正文
TIME:2024-05-07 17:21:19 Source: Internet compilationEdit:opinions
Beijing is using its upcoming Winter Olympics to “sports wash” and gloss over its “
Beijing is using its upcoming Winter Olympics to “sports wash” and gloss over its “horrible” human rights record, the head of Human Rights Watch warned, urging countries to join a diplomatic boycott.
The United States, Britain, Australia and Canada have announced diplomatic boycotts of the Games, set to begin on February 4, over what they consider to be widespread rights abuses by China, including against the Muslim Uyghur minority in Xinjiang province.
HRW executive director Kenneth Roth insisted that other countries should also refrain from sending senior officials to the Olympics to help “spotlight the mass atrocities” in the province, as well as China’s “crushing of basic freedoms in Hong Kong”.
Campaigners say at least one million Uyghurs and other mostly Muslim minorities have been incarcerated in “re-education camps” in the far western region.
Beijing has defended the camps as vocational training centres aimed at reducing the appeal of Islamic extremism.
Beyond diplomacy, Roth said companies also had a moral obligation to resist the abuses taking place in Xinjiang.
“Every company should be doing what it can to avoid endorsing or legitimising the Chinese government’s repression,” he said, slamming carmaker Tesla’s recent decision to open a dealership in the province as “utterly tone deaf”.
He emphasised in particular that “every company should ensure that their supply chains are not complicit in the forced labour that has become so prevalent in Xinjiang.”
Roth hailed Washington’s decision to ban the import of goods from the province unless it can be demonstrated that no forced labour was used in the production, and urged other countries to do the same.
The HRW chief said there seemed to be a growing willingness among some countries to criticise China before the United Nations in New York and Geneva.
He voiced hope that the office of UN rights chief Michelle Bachelet would soon publish a long-delayed report on rights abuses in Xinjiang, potentially inspiring a broader coalition of countries to speak out.
At the same time, Roth lamented that UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, who is scheduled to attend the Winter Olympics opening ceremony, “has been absolutely silent and refuses to speak critically about the Chinese government.”
“This is an enormous world failure.”
Rangers put rookie outfielder Wyatt Langford on the injured list with a right hamstring strain2024-05-07 17:05
Putin announces plans to run for president in 20242024-05-07 17:05
30 Palestinian prisoners released by Israel on 5th day of truce2024-05-07 16:42
Chinese official meets North Korean leader Kim in highest2024-05-07 16:29
Spain's Prado Museum confirms rediscovery of lost Caravaggio. Painting will be unveiled May 272024-05-07 16:19
Xinhua's top 10 world news events in 20232024-05-07 16:03
Iowa Supreme Court overturns $790,000 sexual harassment award to government employee2024-05-07 15:24
Dengue cases surpass 80,000 in Sri Lanka so far this year2024-05-07 15:21
The EU's executive decides to end legal standoff with Poland over democracy concerns2024-05-07 15:18
Bankruptcies in Japan rise for 19th month2024-05-07 14:49
BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, Freshpet rise; Luminar, Integra fall, Monday, 5/6/20242024-05-07 17:09
Palestinian death toll rises to 22,438 in Gaza: ministry2024-05-07 16:48
Interview: China responsible, proactive player in global climate governance, says Kuwaiti expert2024-05-07 16:33
China's central bank to enhance implementation of monetary policies2024-05-07 16:17
Liam Gallagher rents swanky £17,0002024-05-07 16:08
Palestinian death toll in Gaza rises to 20,915: ministry2024-05-07 15:55
At least three people dead in shooting on university campus in Las Vegas2024-05-07 15:43
NE China ports handle record high China2024-05-07 15:32
The number of fish on US overfishing list reaches an all2024-05-07 15:03
Clark Laidlaw: a Scot in Super Rugby. New Hurricanes coach makes a mark.2024-05-07 14:35