U.N. rights chief decries violations in China's Xinjiang, hopes for visit

Reuters

Published Feb 26, 2021 07:04AM ET

Updated Feb 26, 2021 07:15AM ET

GENEVA (Reuters) - United Nations human rights chief Michelle Bachelet said on Friday that China is restricting basic civil and political freedoms in the name of national security and COVID-19 measures.

Bachelet told the Human Rights Council in Geneva that more than 600 people in Hong Kong are being investigated for taking part in protests. Reports about violations including arbitrary detention and forced labour in China's Xinjiang region need independent assessment, she said.