PULSE POINTS:
❓What Happened: Organizations posing as non-governmental organizations (NGOs), allegedly backed by the Chinese government, are increasingly involved at the United Nations (UN) to counter criticism of China’s human rights record.
👥 Who’s Involved: Chinese-backed NGOs, the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ), the Chinese government, the UN Human Rights Council, and human rights activists.
📍 Where & When: United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland; information revealed in a report published on April 28.
💬 Key Quote: “In 2024, 33 Chinese NGOs showed up about 300 times on the lists of speakers at Human Rights Council sessions. There were only three of them in 2018. None criticized China,” the ICIJ report notes.
⚠️ Impact: This development may undermine the monitoring and documentation of global human rights violations by the UN, as Beijing’s influence alters the discourse and potentially silences dissent.
IN FULL:
The International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) has reported that the Chinese government uses NGOs to squash criticism of its human rights abuses at the United Nations (UN). Released on April 28, this finding is part of a broader investigation into the communist state’s attempts at transnational repression under the leadership of Xi Jinping.
“Since Xi’s reelection as Communist Party general secretary in 2017 and president the following year, China has sought greater influence within the UN human rights system and become more aggressive in silencing dissent,” the ICIJ report states, adding that since 2018 the number of Chinese groups holding consultative status at the UN has nearly doubled. The report goes on to contend that of the 106 Chinese NGOs holding consultative status, 59 demonstrate concerning signs that they are “closely connected” with the regime in Beijing.
According to the ICIJ, ten of the Chinese NGOs receive over 50 percent of their funding from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Additionally, at least 46 NGOs are led by individuals who also hold official positions within the Chinese government. Even more troubling, the report states that 53 of the China-backed organizations openly pledge loyalty to the CCP on their websites. At the same time, another ten acknowledged that they defer key decision-making to Chinese government officials.
The CCP appears to primarily use the NGOs to push back against allegations that their regime has engaged in numerous human rights abuses, especially regarding religious and ethnic minorities like the Uyghurs. “In 2024, 33 Chinese NGOs showed up about 300 times on the lists of speakers at Human Rights Council sessions. There were only three of them in 2018. None criticized China,” the report notes.
Some human rights activists also contend that the NGOs are tasked with monitoring and intimidating individuals at the UN who are critical of Beijing’s actions.