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2013 Universal Periodic Review of China

On October 22, 2013, China underwent its second Universal Periodic Review (UPR) at the Human Rights Council in Geneva. During the review, 137 member states of the UN engaged in an interactive dialogue with the Chinese delegation. The review examined China's implementation of the recommendations it had accepted following its first UPR in 2009, as well as new developments or outstanding issues in the fulfillment of its human rights obligations and commitments.

On March 20, 2014, the Human Rights Council (HRC) officially adopted the Outcome Report of the Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review  after consideration at the 41st Meeting of the 25th Regular Session of the Human Rights Council. The Council’s consideration of the outcome report was marked by multiple procedural objections from China. First, China raised a procedural objection when an NGO attempted to observe a moment of silence for the death of rights defender Cao Shunli (曹顺利). China asserted that Council rules only allow for “general comments,” which, they maintained, do not include silence. Later, when another NGO began to deliver a joint statement, China objected that accredited NGOs may only reference other accredited organizations, contradicting common practice.

Of the 252 recommendations made by UN member states, China accepted 204 and rejected 48. And of the 204 accepted recommendations, China stated that 31 have already been implemented, and eight are being implemented.


Other Resources

  • Report of the Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review—China (2013): EN, CH
  • China's 2013 national report: EN, CH
  • OHCHR’s compilation of UN information for the 2013 PRC review: EN, CH
  • OHCHR's summary of stakeholders' submissions for the 2013 PRC review: EN, CH
  • EU statement: “Human rights situations that require the Council’s attention,” 25th Session General Debate Item 4 (2014): EN
  • Video of China’s UPR report consideration—41st Meeting, 25th Regular Session, Human Rights Council (2014): UN Web TV
HRIC Resources
  • HRIC report: “The China Challenge to International Human Rights: What’s At Stake? A UPR Mid-Term Progress Assessment by Human Rights in China,” (November 2016): (EN, CH)
  • HRIC report, submitted to the OHCHR: “Note on China’s progress since the 2009 Universal Periodic Review,” a stakeholder’s submission by Human Rights in China (2013): EN, CH
  • Summary charts: China’s responses to recommendations advanced by Human Rights Council member and observer states, 2nd Universal Periodic Review of China (2014): EN, CH
  • Video of China’s UPR report consideration—41st Meeting, 25th Regular Session, Human Rights Council (2014): HRIC YouTube