UN slams China for deteriorating human rights record at Geneva meeting

The United Nations human rights council has criticised China for its human rights record.

Members of the council expressed concern at the arrest of dissidents, the continued use of the death penalty and the use of torture in prison.

In 2009 it was recommended that China make improvements in reducing poverty and support the rights of ethnic minorities, the BBC reports.

Human rights groups said that China has failed to address these and other issues.

Members of the UN panel also expressed concern about the treatment of a number of Chinese human rights activists in recent weeks.

China however defended its human rights record to the UN, insisting it has undertaken sweeping reforms.

China's special envoy Wu Hailong told the UN Human Rights Council on Tuesday that his country had lived up to a pledge made in 2009 when China was last under scrutiny by the watchdog.

All 193 UN member states are meant to undergo reviews of their rights record every four years.