UN human rights chief urges China to improve conditions for Uyghurs

Friday 27 February 2026 - 14:00

By: Sahili Aya

UN human rights chief urges China to improve conditions for Uyghurs

The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, has called on China to take stronger action to address concerns over the treatment of Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities in the Xinjiang region.

Speaking before the United Nations Human Rights Council, Türk expressed regret over what he described as insufficient follow-up to previous recommendations aimed at safeguarding the rights of Uyghurs and other Muslim communities in Xinjiang, as well as Tibetans in their respective regions. He highlighted ongoing concerns related to labor practices and restrictions on religious and cultural freedoms, and voiced alarm over what he termed increasing pressure on Protestant communities.

The comments come more than three years after a landmark report issued in August 2022 by Türk’s predecessor, Michelle Bachelet. That report cited credible allegations of arbitrary detention and widespread abuses in Xinjiang, raising the possibility of crimes against humanity. Beijing strongly rejected the findings at the time.

Since assuming office shortly after the publication of the report, Türk has faced repeated calls from rights advocates to intensify scrutiny of China’s human rights record. On Friday, he urged Chinese authorities to refrain from using broadly defined criminal, administrative and national security provisions to curb the peaceful exercise of fundamental freedoms.

Although he did not provide detailed examples during his address, the High Commissioner recently expressed concern over the use of national security legislation in Hong Kong, including in the case of pro-democracy media figure Jimmy Lai.

Türk concluded by calling for the release of all individuals held arbitrarily, reiterating the UN’s position on the importance of upholding international human rights standards.