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China defends human rights record at United Nations UN criticises China's rights record at Geneva meeting
(about 2 hours later)
China has defended its human rights record before a UN panel in Geneva for the first time since President Xi Jinping assumed office. The UN human rights council has criticised China during an official review of its human rights record.
An envoy acknowledged some challenges in promoting human rights, but underlined social and economic advances in the country. Many members of the council expressed concern at the arrest of dissidents, the continued use of the death penalty and the use of torture in prison.
All UN member states undergo the review once every four years. But Chinese officials said major progress had been made in improving social and economic rights.
China's review comes amid criticism from rights groups that it has failed to address issues in its last review. They said people had better access to healthcare and education, and incomes had risen across the country.
It was previously recommended that China make improvements in areas including poverty reduction and rights of ethnic minorities. But Julie de Rivero, of Human Rights Watch, told the BBC that China's focus on economic progress was a way of avoiding the real issues.
China said it had made social and economic advances, access to health and education and care for the elderly. "The question is why does does China continue to torture people in prisons and why is it systematic? Why do they not allow human rights defenders to raise questions that party members are even raising, about corruption? When it comes from the mouth of a human rights defender it earns them a place in prison," she said.
Chinese envoy Wu Hailong was quoted by the AFP news agency as telling the UN panel the recommendations "either have been implemented or are being carried out, and our commitment has been basically fulfilled". All UN member states undergo the review by the UN once every four years.
While some UN member states - among them Venezuela and Indonesia - praised China's human rights record, others including Germany, Mexico, Canada, and Ivory Coast expressed concerns over alleged torture in prisons, the continued use of the death penalty, and restrictions on freedom of speech and the media, says the BBC's Imogen Foulkes in Geneva. In 2009 it was recommended that China make improvements in reducing poverty and support the rights of ethnic minorities.
Human rights groups have said that activists are regularly harassed and detained, torture is widespread in prisons and media is heavily restricted. Human rights groups say China has failed to address these and other issues.
In the run up to this review, it appears a number of Chinese activists have been arrested or banned from travelling, in a bid to prevent them testifying in Geneva, our correspondent adds.
Ahead of proceedings on Tuesday, at least three Tibet activists scaled scaffolding at the UN headquarters in Geneva, with a banner saying: "China human rights - UN stand up on Tibet".Ahead of proceedings on Tuesday, at least three Tibet activists scaled scaffolding at the UN headquarters in Geneva, with a banner saying: "China human rights - UN stand up on Tibet".
A Chinese government white paper released earlier on Tuesday said that Beijing has no intention of altering its "correct" policies in Tibet as they have brought "unprecedented achievements", A Chinese government white paper released on Tuesday said that Beijing had no intention of altering its "correct" policies in Tibet as they had brought "unprecedented achievements".
Activist missing Activists missing
The review comes a day after wealthy Chinese businessman Wang Gongquan was formally arrested on suspicion of "gathering crowds to disturb public order". Members of the UN panel also expressed concern about the treatment of a number of Chinese human rights activists in recent weeks.
A BBC correspondent says several have been arrested or banned from travelling in a bid to prevent them testifying in Geneva.
On Monday, a wealthy Chinese businessman, Wang Gongquan, was formally arrested on suspicion of "gathering crowds to disturb public order".
Mr Wang is considered a key supporter of a group of activists pushing for more official transparency, New Citizens Movement, which has been targeted in a crackdown this year.Mr Wang is considered a key supporter of a group of activists pushing for more official transparency, New Citizens Movement, which has been targeted in a crackdown this year.
Human Rights Watch has also expressed concern about a well-known legal rights activist who recently disappeared after being questioned by Beijing airport police.
The group says Cao Shunli has not been seen since 14 September, when she was barred from boarding a flight to Switzerland to attend a UN human rights training course.
A number of bloggers and journalists have also been detained over alleged "rumour-mongering", and high-profile micro-bloggers targeted.A number of bloggers and journalists have also been detained over alleged "rumour-mongering", and high-profile micro-bloggers targeted.
A well-known legal rights activist has also recently disappeared after being questioned by Beijing airport police, a rights group says. The UN panel - with a rotating membership of 47 states that does not currently include China - has no binding powers.
Cao Shunli has not been seen since 14 September, when she was barred from boarding a flight to Switzerland to attend a UN human rights training course, Human Rights Watch (HRW) says. The UN is expected to deliver a report on China later this week.
The UN panel - with a rotating membership of 47 states that does not currently include China - has no binding powers. The UN is expected to deliver a report on China later this week.