China rejects human rights criticism at UN

GENEVA – China rejected proposals Wednesday to end labor camp sentences, abolish the death penalty and guarantee freedom of religion, as it concluded its first examination before the U.N. Human Rights Council.

Beijing, which in the past fought successfully to avoid any criticism before the U.N.'s top human rights organ, struck down virtually every suggestion made by countries such as Britain, Mexico and Germany, in a new procedure designed to open every country to scrutiny.

Still, rights groups said they were happy that several important issues had been raised publicly at the U.N. for the first time and included in a 32-page report.


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