UN Xinjiang report will put pressure on firms in China

Significance

Compilation of the report was led by Michelle Bachelet, the UN human rights commissioner at the time. Its release was delayed until just eleven minutes before the end of her term. The report found “grave human rights violations” had been committed against Muslim communities in the name of counter-extremism. China issued a strong rebuttal.

Impacts

• New confirmation of human rights abuses will intensify pressure on businesses to ensure that their supply chains are not complicit in them.
• Firms dealing with coal, gas, oil, lithium, zinc, lead and cotton will be expected to do thorough due diligence on their supply chains.
• The inability of the UN Human Rights Office to bring about improvements in China will undermine confidence in its utility and value.
• Western governments will be under greater pressure to raise Xinjiang in talks with Beijing, but this will not bring about change in China.
• Beijing does care about its international image, but domestic stability and territorial integrity are higher priorities.