NEW YORK, United States — China is using its economic and diplomatic might to carry out the "most intense attack" ever on the global system for protecting human rights, a leading campaign group said Tuesday, sparking a furious response from a Chinese official. To fend off global efforts to hold it to account, Beijing has "significantly increased" efforts to undermine the international institutions created in the mid-20th century to defend human rights, HRW said. But the 64-year-old was turned back by authorities at the city's airport on Sunday, with China defending the move by saying HRW had incited pro-democracy activists in Hong Kong. Roth called the claim "preposterous" as he launched HRW's World Report 2020, which reviews human rights practices in nearly 100 countries, at the UN. Roth criticized Guterres for making "generic" statements on human rights issues and dodged a question about whether he should be re-elected for a second term.

Source: Philippine Star January 15, 2020 00:22 UTC