Under the Geneva Convention, this principle prevents States from returning a refugee to the place where his life or freedom is at risk.
By deporting the 20 persons, before the determination of their refugee status, says Nowak, Cambodia has put them at risk of torture, or other forms of ill-treatment and even the death penalty.
The deportees were seeking asylum in Cambodia following clashes between Uyghurs and Han, in the North western region of Xinjiang in July this year.
In light of reports of severe torture following the July events and recent executions in the Xinjiang region, Manfred Nowak has urged Chinese authorities to treat the 20 persons humanely upon their return, to grant access to them in case they are detained and to afford them due process guarantees, if charged with criminal offenses.
Jocelyne Sambira, UN Radio.
(duration: 1'04")