Only in the Orwellian world of the United Nations could one find a Chinese "human rights expert" welcoming Iceland's "increasing efforts for the implementation of the Convention Against Torture," while recommending "your country have a specific definition of torture in your criminal law... to teach you to carry out your own constitution, not only international treaties."
Questioning Cuba, this same Chinese expert claimed: "from time to time, there are alleged political factors behind the concept of human rights." He then asked "what is the response of Cuba to the politicization of human rights in the implementation of the Convention Against Torture?"
China is hardly in a position to make any recommendations on human rights to Iceland, while calling out the Cuban regime is a case of the pot calling the kettle black. Yet, these exchanges happened at the U.N. Committee Against Torture (CAT) when it met earlier this year in Geneva. The CAT, which is holding its 74th session until July 29, claims to be composed of 10 independent experts who are "persons of high moral character and recognized competence in the field of human rights." Absurdly, however, their newest elected member is an apologist for China's use of torture.
At a meeting that took place in October 2021, China's Liu Huawen, having inherited a seat on the CAT when China's previous representative prematurely resigned her position, won an election to a four-year term in his own right. This prompted no response from Western democracies and human rights organizations such as Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International.
Liu is neither independent nor competent in the field of human rights as envisioned under the U.N.'s Universal Declaration of Human Rights. While state parties to the torture convention can nominate one of their nationals for election to the CAT, its members are expected to serve in a personal capacity. China lobbied for Liu as their candidate in campaign material claiming his "impartiality, dedication, and professionalism" made him a suitable candidate for the position.
His past activities suggest, however, that he is an advocate for the Chinese regime's particular interpretation of human rights. Liu has previously joined with the Chinese government in criticizing the United States' human rights record, saying U.S. State Department country reports "write off other countries' efforts at improving human rights, hurt their national images and people's feelings."
Liu is more concerned with China's national image over human rights substance. His extensive writing on using human rights to promote Chinese public diplomacy, includes "advocating Chinese understanding of human rights and participating in drafting and exercising the international human rights law."
As to what Chinese understanding of human rights means, it's disturbing to note that Liu attended a "Symposium on Human Rights Publicity Work," organized by the Propaganda Department of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party. Here it was stressed that all Party members must carry out "in-depth study of a series of speeches given by Party Secretary-General Xi Jinping on the development of human rights causes in China, improve their human rights publicity work, and show to the outside world the progress made by China in the development of human rights."
Liu contends China has provided an "alternative way to safeguard human rights," which "prioritizes people's interests," and allows governments to make their own decisions on "how to protect human rights according to their national conditions."
Does Liu's "alternative way" excuse the use of torture?
It appears that the answer is yes.
Liu is on record challenging a Tibetan monk's personal account of being tortured by Chinese security forces. "We should not just talk about your story, but we better have solid evidence and resources and information. Other countries also deprive criminals of political rights," Liu said while representing a so-called Chinese human rights organization at the U.N. How can Liu campaign for the victims of torture at the U.N. when he delegitimizes their very experiences?
In the past several months, yet more evidence has emerged of the extent of torture taking place against Uyghurs in Xinjiang. CNN's recent horrifying report featuring a former Chinese police officer in exile revealed methods including shackling people to metal or wooden chairs designed to immobilize suspects, hanging people from the ceiling, sexual violence, electrocutions, and waterboarding — precisely the forms of torture this U.N. committee is tasked with eliminating.
China exports its tools of torture around the globe. Amnesty International states that in the past decade the number of Chinese firms manufacturing torture devices has quadrupled. Items like electric shock batons, spiked batons, and neck cuffs are made and then exported to police and security forces in places like Egypt, Ghana, Cambodia, and Nepal.
Chinese expertise in human rights is limited to the field of abusing them and Liu's expertise is evidently focused on diverting attention away from such abuses by redefining the very concept of human rights.
While China may have celebrated Liu Huawen's election, the U.N. has sent a message that it doesn't care about the fate of a million Uyghurs locked up in camps nor for the millions of victims of torture around the world.
Simon Plosker is Managing Editor of UN Watch, a Geneva-based human rights organization.
The views expressed in this article are the author's own.
Uncommon Knowledge
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