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UN urges Hong Kong to repeal security laws

The UN Human Rights Committee has published its findings on Hong Kong-China, Macao-China, Georgia, Ireland, Luxembourg and Uruguay, after examining the implementation of civil and political rights.

The UN Human Rights Committee  said this morning (27 July) it was deeply concerned about the overly broad interpretation of Hong Kong’s National Security Law (NSL), which was passed by the National People’s Congress of China without consultation with the Hong Kong public.

Since its enactment in 2020, the NSL has reportedly led to the arrests of over 200 people, including 12 children.

Hong Kong’s Cardinal Zen (pictured) was also arrested recently.

The committee underscored the shortcomings of the NSL, including the lack of clarity about the meaning of the term “national security”, and the possibility of transferring cases from Hong Kong to mainland China (which is not a party to the human-rights covenant) for investigation, prosecution, trial and the execution of penalties.

Lack of clarity

The committee underscored the shortcomings of the NSL, including the lack of clarity about the meaning of the term “national security”, and the possibility of transferring cases from Hong Kong to mainland China (which is not a party to the human-rights covenant) for investigation, prosecution, trial and the execution of penalties.

The committee urged Hong Kong to take action to repeal the National Security Law and, in the meantime, refrain from applying it. 

The committee also raised concern about the excessive number of civil-society organisations, such as trade unions and student unions, which have relocated or ceased to operate since the enactment of the NSL.

The human-rights committee requested that Hong Kong refrain from taking any action that could curb freedom of association, and to ensure that members of civil society would not be prosecuted under the NSL for their participation in the current review. 

Irish measures

On the alleged failure of the Commission of Inquiry into Mother and Child Homes to investigate all abuses committed in institutions, the committee asked Ireland to take measures to ensure that all human-rights violations in these institutions were fully recognised.

It also called for the establishment of a transitional justice mechanism to fight impunity, and to guarantee the right to truth for all victims.