WASHINGTON - February 9 - Amnesty International today described the United Nations Human Rights Council's examination of China as an important new mechanism for the protection of human rights in China but noted that many of the countries involved in the review failed to address some of the most serious human rights issues in China.

"We didn't hear enough about the ongoing repression of the Tibetans, the Uighurs, as well as the persecution of various religious groups, including Christians and members of the Falun Gong," said Roseann Rife, Asia-Pacific deputy director at Amnesty International.

Amnesty International welcomed China's engagement with the U.N.'s Universal Period Review (U.P.R.), and the recommendations presented by some country delegations, such as the need for China to reconsider its use of the death penalty, develop its judicial system, end its use of punitive administrative detention, abolish the household registration system and create conditions for the country to be able to sign the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

Amnesty International urged China to accept the recommendations on these vital human rights issues in preparation for the U.N. Human Rights Council's report on Wednesday, February 11.  

"While it is appropriate to point out the progress that China has made in some areas of respect for human rights, for the United Nations' new review mechanism to be fully effective, reviewing countries must also be willing to address the most serious human rights issues," said Rife.

"China's engagement with the U.N. mechanism is positive," said Rife. "The real test on the effectiveness of the new review process will be whether China implements changes that have a real impact on the protection of human rights for people across the country."

Amnesty International is a Nobel Peace Prize-winning grassroots activist organization with more than 2.2 million supporters, activists and volunteers in more than 150 countries campaigning for human rights worldwide. The organization investigates and exposes abuses, educates and mobilizes the public, and works to protect people wherever justice, freedom, truth and dignity are denied.