China's human rights record has been placed under the spotlight in the build-up to Beijing 2022.

China has been accused of a "genocide" of Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang, with claims of forced Uyghur labour, operating a mass surveillance programme, detaining thousands in internment camps, carrying out forced sterilisations and intentionally destroying Uyghur heritage.

Beijing has denied the allegations, claiming the camps are training centres designed to stamp out Islamist extremism and separatism.

The country’s treatment of Tibet and Hong Kong has also been criticised internationally.

Human Rights Watch has claimed major corporate sponsors of the Games, who form part of the IOC’s The Olympic Partner (TOP) programme, have been silent regarding the human rights situation in the host nation.

"There are just three months until the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, but corporate sponsors remain silent over how they are using their influence to address China’s appalling human rights record," said Sophie Richardson, China director at Human Rights Watch.

"They are squandering the opportunity to show their commitment to human rights standards and risk instead being associated with an Olympics tainted by censorship and repression."

Human Rights Watch has called for sponsors to take six steps, citing their human rights responsibilities under the United Nations (UN) Guiding Principles.

The organisation says sponsors should publicly voice support for the IOC adopting the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights at the next Executive Board meeting, as well as call for the IOC to develop and promulgate a human rights policy and add human rights to the "fundamental principles" of the Olympic Charter.

Sponsors have also been asked to publicly certify that operations in China do not entail labour abuses or other rights violations and press Chinese authorities to ensure human rights and media freedom commitments made when Beijing was awarded the Games are honoured.

Human Rights Watch says sponsors should also urge the release of detained human rights defenders and support an independent investigation under UN auspices into China’s crimes against humanity and other abuses in Xinjiang.

"The Olympic corporate sponsors have taken no evident steps to press the IOC to adopt human rights that are now standard across the business world," said Minky Worden, director of global initiatives at Human Rights Watch.

"As the clock ticks down toward the Beijing Olympics Opening Ceremony on February 4, the TOP sponsors should publicly call on the Olympic system they are paying for to stand up for human rights and put an end to rampant abuses in China."

Human Rights Watch said it wrote to members of the IOC TOP programme in May 2021 and to Allianz in October 2021.

Allianz was the only company reported to have responded, with the statement: "We stand behind the Olympic Movement and our longstanding support for its ideals will not waver."

Human Rights Watch cited responses from Omega and Airbnb, which claimed the Games provided an opportunity for "common ground" and to "connect people around the world", respectively.

Airbnb was among United States-based companies that were asked about their sponsorship of the Games at a Congressional Executive Committee on China (CECC) in July.

Coca-Cola, Intel, Procter & Gamble and Visa were also questioned by the CECC.

Representatives from the companies claimed to be committed to upholding human rights, stating their sponsorship of the IOC is specifically centred on supporting athletes.

Panasonic, Samsung, Toyota, Atos, Bridgestone and Chinese technology company Alibaba are among IOC TOP Partners.

The IOC has refused to reference Uighur Muslims by name, even when asked direct questions, and IOC President Thomas Bach previously said the organisation is not a "super world Government".

Bach has insisted  the IOC would "live up to our responsibilities within our area of responsibilities", adding that "Governments have to live up to their responsibilities in their remits."

The International Trade Union Confederation claimed earlier this week that China should be awarded a "gold medal for repression" in a report, which criticised the IOC for failing to address the human rights situation.

"We have to keep that neutrality," Juan Antonio Samaranch, chairman of the IOC's Coordination Commission for Beijing 2022, said in response to the report.

"It is too precious what we are trying to defend.

"We are what we are, and we can do what we can do."

Countries including the US are set to implement a diplomatic boycott of the Games because of the alleged human rights abuses.

The Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics are scheduled to be held from February 4 to 20, with the Paralympics due to follow between March 4 and 13.