The UK Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee has unveiled startling revelations from a whistleblower regarding alleged misconduct within the United Nations (UN), particularly concerning its relationship with China. Emma Reilly, a former employee of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), has brought forth serious allegations of the UN granting “special favors” to China.
Reilly’s evidence, made public as part of the UK Parliament’s inquiry into international relations within the multilateral system, paints a troubling picture of collusion between the OHCHR and the Chinese government. She accuses the OHCHR of providing “dangerous ‘favours'” to China as part of the latter’s efforts to manipulate the UN for its own national interests.
The whistleblower’s claims include accusations that during negotiations for the Sustainable Development Goals, Beijing allegedly bribed successive Presidents of the General Assembly to influence the final texts. Additionally, China reportedly imposed conditions across UN agencies, restricting funds from being spent in nations with diplomatic ties to Taiwan.
Reilly’s evidence further alleges that a senior official within the OHCHR provided China with advance information on human rights activists attending the Human Rights Council. She asserts that UN officials misled member states about sharing names of activists with China, leading to dire consequences for those targeted by Chinese authorities, including arbitrary arrests, torture, and disappearances.
The whistleblower also highlights instances of self-censorship within the UN, claiming that the Secretary-General expressed difficulty in addressing the reported favors to China due to their sensitive nature.
Furthermore, the evidence suggests that reports on the origins of COVID-19 were edited to downplay the possibility of a laboratory leak, raising concerns about transparency and integrity within UN agencies.
The UK Parliament’s inquiry, which includes submissions from various organizations and experts, aims to investigate how countries engage with multilateral organizations and the challenges posed by autocratic states seeking to reshape these institutions.
The first evidence session, held on April 16, featured whistleblower Emma Reilly and other expert witnesses, shedding light on the complex dynamics of international relations within the multilateral system.
This development underscores growing scrutiny over the UN’s operations and its handling of relationships with powerful member states, particularly amid geopolitical tensions and calls for accountability and transparency in global governance.
Sources By Agencies
