Introduction
Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) is a human rights organisation specialising in freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) for all.
This submission seeks to draw the Council’s attention to the situation for ethnic and religious minorities in the People’s Republic of China and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.
Since 2013 there has been a marked deterioration in the overall protection of human rights in China. Under President Xi Jinping increasing human rights abuses in China have been accompanied by and manifested through a shrinking space for civil society, a heightened sensitivity to perceived challenges to Party rule, and the introduction of legislation that curtails civil and political rights in the name of national security.
In Pakistan, the situation for religious minorities continues to deteriorate. Ongoing blasphemy allegations, sectarian violence and targeted attacks on minorities and human rights defenders (HRDs) erode human rights, creating space for far-right Islamist groups to exert their influence, especially where the government has lacked the will to address violations.