Switzerland urges China to close Uighur detention camps
Around 1,000 Uighur and Tibetan protesters from around Europe demonstrated outside the UN headquarters in Geneva on Tuesday
Keystone
China faced criticism by Switzerland and other western countries in Geneva on Tuesday concerning detention camps allegedly holding up to one million Uighurs and other Muslims.
During the review, western countries – including Belgium, France, Germany and the United States – described the deteriorating human rights situation in China since the last UPR, especially its treatment of Muslims in the western Xinjiang region.
Switzerland and other states called for the closure of “re-education camps” for Uighurs in the Xinjiang region and for access to visits by the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.
China, meanwhile, rejects Western criticism and allegations of suspected mass detention and heavy surveillance of Uighurs in the region of Xinjiang.
“We will not accept politically-driven accusations from a few countries that are fraught with biases,” Chinese Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Yucheng told the council. China has claims that Xinjiang is under threat from Islamist militants and separatists.
During the UPR, Switzerland also urged China to respect the human rights of the Tibetan people and other minorities.
“We also recommend ending the practice of “surveillance residences in a designated location”, specifically for human rights defenders and lawyers,” said Swiss ambassador Sabrina Dallafior.
On Tuesday, around 1,000 Tibetan and Uighur protesters from around Europe demonstrated outside the UN headquarters in Geneva.
Train vs plane: would you take a direct train between London and Geneva?
Eurostar is planning to run direct trains from Britain to Germany and Switzerland from the early 2030s. Would you favour the train over the plane? If not, why not?
Swiss voters to decide on three issues on November 30
This content was published on
Compulsory service for all, a tax on million-dollar inheritances, more indirect subsidies for media publishers: the electorate can vote on these three national issues on November 30.
Dollar falls to lowest level against franc in 14 years
This content was published on
The weakness of the dollar in recent weeks continues. The greenback hit new lows for the year against both the franc and the euro on Tuesday.
This content was published on
Swiss President Karin Keller-Sutter has met French President Emmanuel Macron to discuss the EU treaties and geopolitical challenges. US tariffs were also part of the bilateral talks.
This content was published on
Swiss moors and floodplains are in a poor state. Researchers say further efforts are needed to preserve these biotopes in the long term.
Drones banned during the three Euro games in St Gallen
This content was published on
The St. Gallen government has issued a temporary ban on flying drones around the football stadium in St. Gallen. The measure will apply on three match days of Euro 2025, which starts on Wednesday.
EU nationals come to Switzerland primarily to work
This content was published on
Given the demographic slowdown, the Swiss labour market must remain open, argues the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) in its annual report on the free movement of people.
UN expert accuses Glencore of complicity with Israel
This content was published on
The UN Special Rapporteur on the Palestinian Territories has accused Zug-based Glencore of profiting from an Israeli economy that has become "an economy of genocide".
Swiss parliamentary commission to investigate F-35 purchase
This content was published on
The Swiss government and the other responsible authorities must once again answer critical questions about the procurement of the F-35 fighter jets.
Objections and appeals most common obstacles to residential construction projects
This content was published on
Objections and appeals are most frequently responsible for delays in new residential construction projects in Switzerland.
Swiss electricity prices predicted to fall in 2026
This content was published on
Electricity prices in 2026 are likely to be lower than this year, according to a survey. The main reason is the fall in prices on the electricity market.
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
Tibetans and Uighurs protest in Geneva
This content was published on
“Stop the genocide against Tibetans,” people shouted in the Place des Nations square. They called for the Chinese president, who is on a week-long visit to Switzerland and the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting in Davos, to bring back “Swiss democracy to Tibet and to China”. On Sunday, Swiss police detained 32 Tibetans and…
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.