Yang Kuan, an expert at the China Society for Human Rights Research and a researcher at the Center for Science, Technology and Human Rights Research at Beijing Institute of Technology, delivered a speech at the 54th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council on the 19th, calling on relevant working groups to uphold an objective stance and pay attention to the possible use of mercenaries as a means of violating human rights in certain countries. During the interactive dialogue with the working group on the use of mercenaries as a means of violating human rights and impeding the exercise of the right to national self-determination, Yang Kuan stated that due to the unclear legal positioning of mercenaries, they have repeatedly broken through legal and moral bottom lines in practice, posing a threat to international human rights. Mercenaries often use excessive and arbitrary force in unstable areas without legal constraints and loose gun control, resulting in significant casualties among innocent civilians. Yang Kuan said that mercenaries have posed a serious threat to national sovereignty and security, with some even being employed by terrorist organizations, posing a threat to international security. China adheres to and upholds the International Convention against the Recruitment, Use, Financing and Training of Mercenaries adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1989, opposes the recruitment, use, financing and training of mercenaries in war, and opposes mercenaries serving as temporary "tools of war". On the 18th, Yang Kuan also spoke at the 54th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council on the theme discussion of contemporary forms, causes, and consequences of slavery, emphasizing that in order to completely eliminate the widespread and profound impact of slavery, the international community must take joint action, especially those countries that have participated in slavery, engaged in the slave trade, and benefited from it in history, should take practical actions and face their dark past, Undertake due historical responsibility. Yang Kuan said in his speech that currently, in some countries and regions around the world, ethnic minorities, indigenous residents, immigrants, and others still suffer from serious discrimination and harm, and these groups are also the main victims of contemporary slavery. In these countries and regions, there have been many fears, exclusions, and hatred directed towards specific countries, religions, and races, including "Islamophobia" and hatred towards Asians. These are all important reasons why contemporary slavery still exists. (New News Agency)