Pledges of Human Rights Council Candidates vs. the Reality – 2023

BURUNDI

NO PLEDGE SUBMITTED

China

"China pursues a people-centred approach to promoting and protecting human rights and believes that a life of contentment for the people is the ultimate human right. China follows a path of human rights development that is consistent with the trend of the times and suits the nation’s conditions, and scored historic achievements in its promotion and protection of human rights. The respect for and protection of human rights is enshrined in the Constitution of the Communist Party of China and the Constitution of the People’s Republic of China, and is also incorporated in China’s national plans for economic and social development."
(Voluntary pledge for candidacy to Human Rights Council - China)

"The People’s Republic of China is an authoritarian state in which the Chinese Communist Party is the paramount authority... Genocide and crimes against humanity occurred during the year against predominantly Muslim Uyghurs and members of other ethnic and religious minority groups in Xinjiang. These crimes were continuing and included: the arbitrary imprisonment or other severe deprivation of physical liberty of more than one million civilians; forced sterilization, coerced abortions, and more restrictive application of the country’s birth control policies; rape and other forms of sexual and gender-based violence; torture of a large number of those arbitrarily detained; and persecution including forced labor and draconian restrictions on freedom of religion or belief, freedom of expression, and freedom of movement. Significant human rights issues included credible reports of: arbitrary or unlawful killings by the government; forced disappearances by the government; torture by the government; harsh and life-threatening prison and detention conditions; arbitrary arrest and detention by the government including since 2017 of more than one million Uyghurs and members of other predominantly Muslim minority groups in extrajudicial internment camps, prisons, and an additional unknown number subjected to daytime-only “re-education” training; political prisoners; transnational repression against individuals in other countries;... punishment of family members for offenses allegedly committed by an individual; serious restrictions on free expression and media, including physical attacks on and criminal prosecution of journalists, lawyers, writers, bloggers, dissidents, petitioners, and others;... severe restrictions and suppression of religious freedom; substantial restrictions on freedom of movement;... forced sterilization and coerced abortions; violence targeting members of national, racial, and ethnic minority groups; trafficking in persons, including forced labor;...Government officials and the security services often committed human rights abuses with impunity."
(Country Reports on Human Rights Practices China 2022, U.S. Department of State)

CÔTE D'IVOIRE

"Since its accession to national and international sovereignty, the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire has shown its determination to build a State governed by the rule of law in which respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, human dignity, justice and good governance is a priority and a commitment for the Government, in accordance with the international legal instruments to which the country is a party."
(Voluntary pledge for candidacy to Human Rights Council - Côte d'Ivoire)

"Significant human rights issues included credible reports of: forced disappearance; torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment by the government; harsh and life-threatening prison conditions; arbitrary arrest or detentions; political prisoners or detainees; serious problems with the independence of the judiciary; serious restrictions on free expression and media, including unjustified arrests or prosecutions of journalists and the enforcement of criminal libel laws; serious government corruption; substantial interference with the freedom of peaceful assembly; lack of investigation and accountability for gender-based violence, including but not limited to domestic and intimate partner violence and female genital mutilation/cutting; and violence against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, or intersex persons."
(Country Reports on Human Rights Practices Côte d'Ivoire 2022, U.S. Department of State)

CUBA

The Human Rights Pledge of Cuba

"...2. Our country is firmly committed to the promotion and protection of all human rights and to international cooperation in this area...10. Cubans have made significant progress in the enjoyment of all their human rights, in the areas of economic, social and cultural rights and civil and political rights..."
(Voluntary pledge for candidacy to Human Rights Council - Cuba)
Some of what Cuba neglected to mention in its pledge:

"Cuba is an authoritarian state...Significant human rights issues included credible reports of: unlawful or arbitrary killings, including extrajudicial killings, by the government; torture and cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment of political dissidents, detainees, and prisoners by security forces; harsh and life-threatening prison conditions; arbitrary arrests and detentions; political prisoners; transnational repression against individuals in another country; serious problems with the independence of the judiciary; arbitrary or unlawful interference with privacy; serious restrictions on freedom of expression and media, including violence or threats of violence against journalists, censorship, unjustified arrests or prosecutions of journalists, and enforcement or threat to enforce criminal libel laws to limit expression; serious restrictions on internet freedom; substantial interference with the right of peaceful assembly and freedom of association, including overly restrictive laws on the organization, funding, or operation of nongovernmental and civil society organizations; severe restrictions on religious freedom; restrictions on freedom of movement and residence within the country and on the right to leave the country; inability of citizens to change their government peacefully through free and fair elections; serious and unreasonable restrictions on political participation; serious government corruption; lack of investigation of and accountability for gender-based violence, including femicide; trafficking in persons, including forced labor;...Government officials, at the direction of their superiors, committed numerous human rights abuses."
(Country Reports on Human Rights Practices Cuba 2022, U.S. Department of State)



KUWAIT

The Human Rights Pledge of Kuwait

"The State of Kuwait is convinced of the need to strengthen and protect human rights at the national level, in accordance with the Constitution of 1962. It has a rich tradition of exercising democracy, one that is grounded in the rule of law, the protection and consolidation of rights and freedoms, and the realization of social justice...Kuwait is committed to respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms."
(Voluntary pledge for candidacy to Human Rights Council - Kuwait)
Some of what Kuwait neglected to mention in its pledge:

"Significant human rights issues included credible reports of: torture or cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment by government agents; arbitrary arrest; political prisoners and detainees; serious restrictions on free expression and media, including censorship and the existence of criminal libel laws; serious restrictions on internet freedom; substantial interference with the freedom of peaceful assembly and freedom of association, including overly restrictive laws on the organization, funding, or operation of nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and civil society organizations; restrictions on freedom of movement including the right to leave the country; serious government corruption; government harassment of domestic human rights organizations; lack of investigation of and accountability for gender-based violence, including domestic or intimate partner violence; trafficking in persons; crimes involving violence or threats of violence targeting lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or intersex persons; and the existence and use of laws criminalizing consensual same-sex sexual conduct between adults."
(Country Reports on Human Rights Practices Kuwait 2022, U.S. Department of State)



RUSSIAN FEDERATION

NO PLEDGE SUBMITTED