Cao Shunli (曹顺利)
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“Our impact may be large, may be small, and may be nothing. But we must try. It is our duty to the dispossessed and it is the right of civil society.”
– Cao Shunli, 1961-2014
Cao Shunli was a Chinese human rights defender who unwaveringly pursued her goal to make use of international human rights mechanisms to improve rights conditions in China. Chinese police detained her in September 2013 at Beijing Capital International Airport to prevent her from traveling to Geneva. Cao was disappeared for five weeks until Beijing police confirmed she had been criminally detained. She was subsequently denied adequate medical treatment and release on medical bail despite her worsening health, which culminated in her death in police custody in March 2014. This site brings together materials on her life, activism, the reaction to her death, and ongoing efforts for accountability.
Background on Cao Shunli & her Activism
Portrait of a Defender – Cao Shunli & Her Legacy, April 21, 2014, CHRD
China Must Stop Excluding Civil Society From UN Human Rights Review, October 7, 2013, CHRD
Enforced Disappearance, Detention, and Denial of Medical Care
Activist Cao Shunli Still Missing Since 9/14, When Authorities Blocked Her From Going to Human Rights Training in Geneva, China Human Rights Briefing September 20-25, 2013, CHRD
Activist Cao Shunli Reportedly Under Criminal Detention on Order of Ministry of Foreign Affairs, China Human Rights Briefing September 26-October 2, 2013, CHRD
China Must Stop Excluding Civil Society From UN Human Rights Review, October 7, 2013, CHRD
Plight of Activist Cao Shunli Remains Murky, China Human Rights Briefing October 10–16, 2013, CHRD
Lawyer Met Cao Shunli, Confirmed Arrest and Serious Illness, China Human Rights Briefing October 24 –31, 2013, CHRD
Detained Activist Cao Shunli Deprived Treatment for Serious Illnesses, China Human Rights Briefing December 19, 2013–January 2, 2014, CHRD
Cao Shunli in Critical Condition After Emergency Medical Treatment, China Human Rights Briefing February 27-March 6, 2014, CHRD
Reaction to her Death
Chinese Government Must be Held Accountable for Death of Activist Cao Shunli, March 14, 2014, CHRD
CHRD声明：必须让中国政府承担迫害曹顺利致死的一切后果, March 14, 2014
Cao Shunli’s Body “Disappeared” From Hospital, Supporter Liu Xiaofang’s Detention Confirmed, China Human Rights Briefing March 21-27, 2014, CHRD
Rebuttal to Chinese Authorities’ Claims About Death of Cao Shunli, March 20, 2014, CHRD
Family Seeks Independent Autopsy of Activist Who Died in Detention, March 28, 2014, The New York Times
Cao Shunli (曹顺利) Nominated for Martin Ennals Award 2014, April 23, 2014
Watch List of Detainees and Prisoners of Conscience in Need of Medical Attention
Statements from International Community
US State Department, Death of Chinese Activist Cao Shunli, March 15, 2014
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, UN High Commissioner’s Spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani, quoted in AFP News “Detained China activist dies after critical illness” March 15, 2014
UN Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council, Deadly reprisals: UN experts deplore the events leading to the death of Chinese human rights defender Cao Shunli, and ask for full investigation, March 18, 2014 (from Special Rapporteurs on freedom of opinion and expression, peaceful assembly and expression, health, human rights defenders, torture, and the Working Groups on arbitrary detention and enforced disappearances)
Oral statement to the 55th session of the UN Human Rights Council, March 22, 2024
Cao Shunli’s Case at the United Nations
Submission to the UN on Cao Shunli, September 19, 2013, CHRD
Communication sent on July 17, 2013 from mandates: Working Group on Arbitrary Detention; Working Group on Enforced Disappearances; SR on Freedom of Expression; SR on Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and Association; SR on Human Rights Defenders; SR on Torture, CHN 6/2013, Special Procedures of the United Nations Human Rights Council
Response from the Chinese Government dated September 23, 2013
Communication sent October 1, 2013 from mandates: Working Group on Disappearances; SR on Freedom of Expression; SR on Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and of Association; Human Rights Defenders, CHN 11/2013, Special Procedures of the United Nations Human Rights Council
Communication sent November 14, 2013 from mandates: SR on Freedom of Expression; SR on Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and of Association; SR on Health; SR on Human Rights Defenders; SR on Torture, CHN 13/2013, Special Procedures of the United Nations Human Rights Council
Response from the Chinese Government dated January 7, 2014
Response from the Chinese Government dated January 24, 2014
Communication sent March 3, 2014 from mandates: Working Group on Arbitrary Detention; SR on Freedom of Expression; SR on Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and of Association; SR on Health; SR on Human Rights Defenders; SR on Torture, CHN 2/2014, Special Procedures of the United Nations Human Rights Council
Joint Civil Society Report Submitted to UN Committee against Torture – October 2015
UN Secretary-General’s Reprisals Report, August 27, 2014
UN Secretary-General’s Reprisals Report, August 17, 2015
UN Secretary-General’s Reprisal Report, August 16, 2016
UN Secretary-General’s Reprisals Report, August 13, 2018
UN Secretary-General’s Reprisals Report, August 2, 2019
Cao Shunli Memorial Award
Cao Shunli Memorial Award for Human Rights Defenders
Jia Lingmin Named 2016 Recipient of Cao Shunli Memorial Award, March 14, 2016, CHRD
Winner Named for the 2024 Cao Shunli Memorial Award for Human Rights Defenders, March 13, 2024, CHRD
Reprisals Against her Supporters & Lawyer
Anniversary of Cao Shunli’s Death; Previously Unreported Detentions of Her Supporters, China Human Rights Briefing March 13-19, 2015, CHRD
Portrait of a Defender – Wang Yu 王宇, July 23, 2015 CHRD
Efforts for Accountability
Small Step Toward Accountability: US Sanctions Chinese Official Over Death of Cao Shunli, December 22, 2017, CHRD (中文版本)
Films about Cao Shunli
Film paying tribute to Cao Shunli produced for Martin Ennals Award Ceremony – October 2014
Cao Shunli: Life & Legacy – Documentary produced by CHRD – March 2016