U.N. said to be poised to ax whistleblower for exposing Chinese/U.N. wrongdoing

"A group representing over 30 whistleblower and anti-corruption groups around the world is urging the United Nations secretary-general to protect Emma Reilly, a U.N. human rights lawyer who risked her career by reporting undue Chinese influence at the U.N.

Reilly fears she will be fired for her efforts. She alerted her bosses at the U.N. Human Rights office that – at the request of China – her office handed over names of dissidents who were coming to the U.N. Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Switzerland, including some U.S. citizens.

Reilly said this resulted in pressure from Beijing on the dissidents not to make the trip. She said that included pressuring their families which in some cases resulted in arrests, torture and, in one case, a person was reported to have died in detention.

Last week, a letter demanding action was sent to U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres from Whistleblowing International Network (WIN) that called on him 'to immediately suspend any further action being taken against' Reilly.

The letter also noted that, 'It is essential that the United Nations – as the international upholder of human rights globally - take responsibility for any failure to protect human rights defenders, and we call for a full, credible, and independent investigation of Ms. Reilly’s original concerns about the potentially harmful consequences of OHCHR (Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights) staff sharing names of vulnerable human rights activists with the Chinese authorities.'..."