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STORY: OHCHR / THAILAND UYGHURS DEPORTATION
TRT: 01:53
SOURCE: OHCHR
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS
DATELINE: 27 FEBRUARY 2024, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
1. Various shots, exteriors, Geneva Lac Leman and Palais Wilson
2. SOUNDBITE (English) Liz Throssell, Spokesperson for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR):
“The UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk says the deportation of 40 ethnic Uyghurs to China is a clear violation of international human rights laws and standards. The men, who were part of a larger group, have been held in poor conditions at a number of immigration detention facilities in Thailand since March 2014. Five have died in custody. Eight are believed to remain in detention. Our Office has repeatedly urged the Thai authorities to respect their obligations under international law in relation to these individuals in need of international protection. It is deeply regrettable that they have been forcibly deported. Their deportation violates the principle of non-refoulement for which there is a complete prohibition in cases where there is a real risk of torture, ill-treatment, or other irreparable harm upon their return. The principle of non-refoulement is contained in Article 3 of the Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhumane or Degrading Treatment or Punishment to which Thailand is a party, in Article 7 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, as well as Thailand’s own domestic legislation. The Thai authorities must ensure there are no further deportations and that the remaining members of the group, including potential refugees and asylum-seekers, being held in Thailand are fully protected in accordance with their obligations under international law. It is now important for the Chinese authorities to disclose their whereabouts, and to ensure that they are treated in accordance with international human rights standards.”
The UN Human rights spokesperson Liz Throssell made the following statement regarding the deportation of Uyghurs to China. “The UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk says the deportation of 40 ethnic Uyghurs to China is a clear violation of international human rights laws and standards.
The men, who were part of a larger group, have been held in poor conditions at a number of immigration detention facilities in Thailand since March 2014. Five have died in custody. Eight are believed to remain in detention.
Our Office has repeatedly urged the Thai authorities to respect their obligations under international law in relation to these individuals in need of international protection.
It is deeply regrettable that they have been forcibly deported.
Their deportation violates the principle of non-refoulement for which there is a complete prohibition in cases where there is a real risk of torture, ill-treatment, or other irreparable harm upon their return.
The principle of non-refoulement is contained in Article 3 of the Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhumane or Degrading Treatment or Punishment to which Thailand is a party, in Article 7 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, as well as Thailand’s own domestic legislation.
The Thai authorities must ensure there are no further deportations and that the remaining members of the group, including potential refugees and asylum-seekers, being held in Thailand are fully protected in accordance with their obligations under international law.
It is now important for the Chinese authorities to disclose their whereabouts, and to ensure that they are treated in accordance with international human rights standards.”
