BERLIN (AP) 鈥 The top United Nations human rights official said Friday that his office will continue reaching out to Beijing about allegations of abuse in China.
The office of former U.N. human rights chief Michelle Bachelet stating that China鈥檚 detention of Uyghurs and other mostly Muslim ethnic groups in the western region of Xinjiang may constitute crimes against humanity.
Bachelet's successor, High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker T眉rk, called the report 鈥渁 very important one鈥 that 鈥渉ighlighted very serious human rights concerns.鈥
鈥淢y focus is on following up on the recommendations that are contained in the report,鈥 T眉rk said at a news conference in Geneva.
鈥淲e will, and I will, personally continue engaging with the authorities,鈥 he said, adding: "Hope springs eternal for changes.鈥
Beijing rejected the report when it was released, alleging it was part of a Western campaign to smear China鈥檚 reputation.
