News - Chinese Human Rights DefendersChinese Human Rights Defenders

[CHRB] Tibetan Village Leader Dies in Custody & 3 From 2013 Crackdown Given Prison Terms (12/12-18/2014)

December 18, 2014 Comments Off

On December 12, a court in Anhui Province handed down sentences to three activists—Li Huaping (李化平), Yao Cheng (姚城), and Zhou Weilin (周伟林)—based largely on their roles in the 2013 protests advocating for the education rights of activist Zhang Lin (张林)’s daughter. Elsewhere, a village leader in the Tibet Autonomous (read more…)

[CHRB] Activists’ Trials Possible During Holidays & Proposed Amendments to China’s Criminal Law (12/4-11/2014)

December 11, 2014 Comments Off

Five activists and lawyers seized since the spring of 2013 may face trial around Christmas, a common government tactic in recent years, intended to deflect international attention. Tibetan activist Tenzin Choedak died on December 5 in Lhasa City, two days after he was released after serving less than six years (read more…)

[CHRB] Beijing Police Detain Outspoken Intellectuals, Close 2 Independent Groups (11/21-12/4, 2014)

December 4, 2014 Comments Off

In strident moves meant to further silence government critics, Beijing authorities have shuttered the Transition Institute, an independent research group, and also the Liren Group, which runs a private school and independent libraries, while detaining several individuals affiliated with these groups as well as other independent writers. Elsewhere, over the (read more…)

Free Guo Feixiong and Sun Desheng: Cases Rife With Injustice

November 27, 2014 Comments Off

CHRD calls on Chinese authorities to immediately and unconditionally release activists Guo Feixiong (郭飞雄) and Sun Desheng (孙德胜), who face trial at the Tianhe District People’s Court in Guangzhou on November 28. Guo and Sun took part in anti-corruption and free speech demonstrations in early 2013, and were later arrested (read more…)

[CHRB] China Must Free Journalist Gao Yu and Others Detained during June Fourth Anniversary Crackdown as They Face Trial (11/15-20/2014)

November 20, 2014 Comments Off

Gao Yu (高瑜), Pu Zhiqiang (浦志强), and Tang Jingling (唐荆陵), arrested in the suppression surrounding around this year’s June Fourth anniversary, will face trial imminently, with court proceedings in Ms. Gao’s case scheduled to begin this Friday. Meanwhile, Guangdong activist Wang Mo (王默), detained as a part of the crackdown (read more…)

[CHRB] Arbitrary Detentions & Restrictions for “Harmonious” APEC & Over 100 Detentions Tied to Hong Kong (11/7-14/2014)

November 14, 2014 Comments Off

Anhui authorities have detained two activists after the Washington Post interviewed them. Authorities tightened restrictions on the movement of dissidents, activists, and petitioners in Beijing during the APEC Forum, and lawyers representing two detained activists have faced apparent reprisals for handling “politically sensitive” cases. CHRD has confirmed that 101 individuals (read more…)

[CHRB] Women’s Rights Defenders Face Reprisals Over UN Review (10/31-11/6/2014)

November 6, 2014 Comments Off

Two women’s rights activists have faced reprisals for drawing attention to—or planning to contribute to—the review of China by the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women, which took place on October 23. At the review itself, the All-China Women’s Federation, a government-run body, posed as a “non-governmental (read more…)

[CHRB] Guangzhou’s New Restrictions on NGOs & UN Experts Call For Release of Detained Chinese Journalist (10/17-30/2014)

October 30, 2014 Comments Off

Draft rules on the prohibition of “illegal” civil society organizations in Guangzhou were released on October 20, leading to protests from civil society organizations. CHRD launched a focus campaign tracking the suppression of individuals after they supported the protests demanding genuine universal suffrage in Hong Kong. The UN Working Group (read more…)

CHRD Releases “We can Beat You to Death With Impunity,” a report about secret detention & abuse of women in China’s black jails

October 21, 2014 Comments Off

CHRD has released a new report, “We can Beat You to Death With Impunity:” Secret Detention & Abuse of Women in China’s “Black Jails”. The report examines widespread detention in extralegal facilities known as “black jails,” and particularly abuses against women locked up in the facilities, where roughly 80% of (read more…)

[CHRB] Discrimination against Women in China under UN Review; More Detained for Backing Hong Kong Protests (10/10-16/2014)

October 16, 2014 Comments Off

On October 23, the UN Committee on Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) will review China’s implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women. CHRD jointly submitted a report assessing the conditions in key areas of women’s rights with a coalition of Chinese NGOs. (read more…)

[CHRB] Beijing’s Newest Crackdown: Update on Detentions of Mainland Supporters of HK Protests (10/2-9/2014)

October 9, 2014 Comments Off

Into the second week of demonstrations in Hong Kong demanding universal suffrage, police across China have taken into custody dozens of activists, petitioners, artists, and others who had posted messages online or gathered to show support for the protestors. CHRD has now documented more than 40 cases in total, with (read more…)

[CHRB] Activists Across China Detained for Supporting Democracy Protests in Hong Kong (9/19-10/1/2014)

October 1, 2014 Comments Off

Many Chinese citizens have faced reprisals for supporting the protests in Hong Kong, as police are concerned that they may try to travel to Hong Kong or take to streets to protest. Tibetan student Lhamo Tashi (拉莫扎西) died from his injuries after self-immolating on September 17 in Gansu Province, the (read more…)