UN experts have urged Beijing to drop its draft security law for Hong Kong and have denounced the 'excessive use of force by police and the alleged use of chemical agents against protesters'.
Dozens of independent UN experts have voiced alarm over the repression of fundamental freedoms in China, demanding urgent action from the UN Human Rights Council.
They also denounced"impunity for excessive use of force by police, the alleged use of chemical agents against protesters, the alleged sexual harassment and assault of women protesters in police stations and the alleged harassment of health care workers".
They also said journalists, medical workers and others exercising free speech over the COVID-19 outbreak in China have allegedly faced retaliation from the authorities.The UN experts said the national security law planned for Hong Kong would"violate China's international legal obligations and impose severe restrictions on civil and political rights".
They called on the UN Human Rights Council to act with"urgency" to monitor Chinese human rights practices, raising the prospect of holding a special session of the council to evaluate the range of violations listed.
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