China’s treatment of its Uyghur population “may constitute crimes against humanity”, the United Nations’ Human Rights Office has said.

It has found evidence among women of forced abortions and forced sterilisations, it added.

The OHCHR said it decided to investigate after “serious allegations of human rights violations against Uyghurs and other predominantly Muslim communities” were brought to its attention in late 2017.

Last December, a tribunal found China guilty of genocide against the Uyghur people and other minorities in Xinjiang.

The UN said its report was “based on a rigorous review of documentary material currently available”.

It commented: “The extent of arbitrary and discriminatory detention of members of Uyghur and other predominantly Muslim groups, pursuant to law and policy, in context of restrictions and deprivation more generally of fundamental rights enjoyed individually and collectively, may constitute international crimes, in particular crimes against humanity.”

In a long report, it refers to “violations of the family planning policy”.

The document states: “Several women interviewed by OHCHR raised allegations of forced birth control, in particular forced IUD placements and possible forced sterilisations with respect to Uyghur and ethnic Kazakh women.”

It adds: “Some women spoke of the risk of harsh punishments including ‘internment’ or ‘imprisonment’ for violations of the family planning policy.

“Among these, OHCHR interviewed some women who said they were forced to have abortions or forced to have IUDs inserted, after having reached the permitted number of children under the family planning policy.

“These first-hand accounts, although limited in number, are considered credible.”

China said it “firmly opposes” the report’s release and the Chinese government has a “people-centred approach”.

It added: “China implements an ethnic policy featuring equality, unity, regional ethnic autonomy, and common prosperity for all ethnic groups.

“All ethnic groups, including the Uygur, are equal members of the Chinese nation.

“Xinjiang has taken actions to fight terrorism and extremism in accordance with the law, effectively curbing the frequent occurrences of terrorist activities.”

The UN said its assessment was based on China’s obligations under international human rights law.

It added that certain treaties – in particular the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination – are treaties “to which China is a state party”.

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