Beijing’s human rights violations should be on the agenda at EU-China Summit
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17 NGOs write to EU leaders with steps to ensure human rights are prioritized at this week’s meeting
(Network of Chinese Human Rights Defenders—July 22, 2025) CHRD and 16 partners wrote to European Union (EU) leaders ahead of the EU-China Summit to call for human rights to be prioritized at the bilateral discussions. The group called for the EU to announce new strategies at the summit, to be held in China on July 24, to address grave and worsening human rights violations by Chinese authorities.
“The EU has shown itself willing to take a stronger line with Beijing on trade and security issues, and should do the same on human rights,” said Sophie Richardson, Co-Executive Director of the Network of Chinese Human Rights Defenders. “New and tougher approaches may help ameliorate Beijing’s assault on human rights, which harms people in China, in Europe, and around the world.”
The organizations recommended five steps that EU leaders can take at the summit, including condemning the Chinese government’s crimes against humanity and reiterating that such international crimes are subject to universal jurisdiction. They should also publicly and by name call for the immediate and unconditional release of human rights defenders imprisoned for their work.
The full letter with recommendations can be read on CHRD’s website.
For more information, please contact:
Sophie Richardson, Co-Executive Director, Chinese Human Rights Defenders, sophierichardson@nchrd.org, +1 917 721 7473
Angeli Datt, Research and Advocacy Coordinator, Chinese Human Rights Defenders, angelidatt@nchrd.org, +1 934 444 6155
Shane Yi, Researcher, Chinese Human Rights Defenders, shaneyi@nchrd.org