In the Press - Chinese Human Rights DefendersChinese Human Rights Defenders

China: Activist ‘Disappeared’ Ahead of UN Rights Review

September 30, 2013 Comments Off

Originally published by Human Rights Watch on September 24, 2013 (New York) – The Chinese government should immediately release Cao Shunli, a Beijing-based activist who has been forcibly disappeared since September 14, 2013, Human Rights Watch said today. She has not been heard from since she was questioned and barred from boarding a flight to Geneva (read more…)

Chinese Dissidents Jailed Ahead of Moon Festival

September 30, 2013 Comments Off

Originally published by Radio Free Asias on September 19, 2013 Chinese authorities have formally arrested or sentenced a number of anti-graft and human rights activists on the eve of the traditional mid-autumn moon festival, rights groups said on Thursday. Authorities in the central province of Hubei formally arrested Liu Jiacai, an activist (read more…)

China’s new move signals the end of one-child policy

December 1, 2013 Comments Off

China’s planned easing of its controversial one-child policy will allow several million couples, especially in urban areas, to have a second child.

China Detains Activists Over UN Campaign

September 30, 2013 Comments Off

Originally published by Radio Free Asias on September 18, 2013 Chinese authorities have detained two prominent rights activists who were en route to Geneva ahead of a U.N. review of Beijing’s rights record, and are questioning two more on suspicion of subversion after they campaigned against China’s application to join a U.N. (read more…)

Chen’s Brother Denied Internet Access Amid War on ‘Rumor’

September 30, 2013 Comments Off

Originally published by Radio Free Asias on September 10, 2013 Amid a nationwide crackdown on “false” online information, authorities in the eastern Chinese province of Shandong have cut off the Internet service of the brother of blind Chinese dissident Chen Guangcheng after he traveled to Shanghai to meet with other activists. Chen (read more…)

The Good, The Bad and the Ugly of China on the UNHRC

December 1, 2013 Comments Off

China celebrates its membership of the UN Human Rights Council. Elsewhere, reactions are mixed.

China Tries Even Harder to Censor the Internet

September 30, 2013 Comments Off

Originally published by Businessweek on September 12, 2013 Chinese officials probably don’t care much about irony. The latest example came today in Beijing. At the same time China’s Internet censors are intensifying a crackdown on bloggers and other online activity, delegates convened in the capital for a two-day forum on human rights. The official (read more…)

Group Slams China’s ‘Abysmal’ Record on Child Rights

September 30, 2013 Comments Off

Originally published by Radio Free Asias on September 3, 2013 China has failed to uphold the rights of the country’s children, with many left vulnerable to sexual abuse, child labor, and harm through shoddy goods and medicines and poor safety standards, an overseas-based rights group said on Tuesday. “China’s abysmal record in (read more…)

Human rights groups says China has detained another legal activist

September 30, 2013 Comments Off

Originally published by FOX NEWS on August 17, 2013 BEIJING – A Chinese human rights group and a friend say authorities have detained Guo Feixiong, a leader of the country’s loose New Citizens campaign to promote democratic rights. Journalist Xiao Shu said Saturday that a sister of Guo, whose real name is Yang Maodong, (read more…)

Shanghai Lawyer Suspended Over Constitutional Campaigns

September 30, 2013 Comments Off

Originally published by Radio Free Asia on August 29, 2013 Authorities in Shanghai have suspended a prominent legal scholar and rights lawyer from his teaching post after he wrote an article promoting constitutional reforms in June, amid what rights groups say is a continuing crackdown on political activists and anti-graft campaigners. Zhang Xuezhong, (read more…)

Beijing Formally Arrests Lawyer Pu Zhiqiang in Clampdown on Dissent

June 19, 2014 Comments Off

Originally published by The Wall Street Journal on June 13, 2014 BEIJING—Chinese police formally arrested a hard-charging rights lawyer on multiple criminal charges on Friday, making him the latest prominent target in a tightening clampdown on dissent. Pu Zhiqiang faces charges of “picking quarrels and provoking troubles,” as well as (read more…)

Calls Grow for Release of Chinese Student Held Over Tiananmen Tweet

June 16, 2014 Comments Off

Originally published by Radio Free Asia on June 13, 2014 A Beijing college student has written to China’s president calling for the release of her classmate currently under criminal detention for sending out a tweet linked to the 25th anniversary of the military crackdown on student-led protests in Tiananmen Square. (read more…)