The Wire

After years of international pressure, China has submitted its first human rights report to the United Nations Human Rights Council. According to a review program that started in 2007, all UN member states will be examined every four years. While some have praised China for submitting the report, critics argue that China is still in denial of its appalling human rights record. China’s Ambassador to the UN, Li Baodong defended his country’s record to the council stating that Chinese citizens are free to voice their opinions to the media and that the government opposes torture. But Human Rights groups say that China is whitewashing reality.