Brussels – At the 38th round of the EU-China Human Rights Dialogue in Brussels, the EU urged China to investigate and stop violations of human rights and international law, expressing its concern about cases of illegal detention, enforced disappearance, torture and ill-treatment. The EU also called on China to immediately release Tibetan political prisoners, including Go Sherab Gyatso, Rinchen Tsultrim and Tashi Dorje.
The 38th session of the EU-China Human Rights Dialogue was held in Brussels on February 17, 2023. Representatives from EU and China discussed on the human rights issues and the EU expressed serious concern at the persistent restrictions on the exercise of fundamental freedoms, use of forced labour, limits on due process rights and lack of judicial independence in China. In doing so, the EU highlighted the particularly vulnerable situation of Uyghurs, Tibetans and persons belonging to religious, ethnic and linguistic minorities across the country.
A statement of EU stated, "China and the EU agreed on the importance of achieving globally and domestically the full realisation of economic, social and cultural rights. The EU highlighted that this realisation should happen on an equal basis with civil and political rights, and recalled that human rights, whether civil, cultural, economic, political or social, are equally importantand equally necessary to protect human dignity. It also reaffirmed that the full respect for human rights is a pre-condition to achieve sustainable and inclusive development, economic growth and prosperity."
During the dialogue, the EU raised the issue of repression against human rights defenders, lawyers and journalists in China, in particular in Xinjiang, Tibetan areas, Inner Mongolia and Hong Kong. The EU urged China to investigate and stop violations of human rights and international law, expressing concern about cases of illegal detention, enforced disappearance, torture and ill-treatment. The EU referred to several individual cases and called on China to immediately release those detained without due process, including Tibetan political prisoners Go Sherab Gyatso, Rinchen Tsultrim and Tashi Dorje.
