News - Chinese Human Rights DefendersChinese Human Rights Defenders

One Year after Earthquake, Silence Imposed on Schoolchildren Deaths, Activists Harassed

May 4, 2009 Comments Off

One Year after Earthquake, Silence Imposed on Schoolchildren Deaths, Activists Harassed Chinese Human Rights Defenders May 4, 2009 As the first anniversary of the devastating May 12 Sichuan Earthquake approaches, parents of children who died buried under collapsed schools have found little solace as officials continue to obstruct efforts to (read more…)

China Human Rights Briefing April 27- May 3, 2009

April 27, 2009 Comments Off

Please click here for the full China Human Rights Briefing in PDF China Human Rights Briefing Reporting human rights development from the grassroots April 27- May 3, 2009 Highlights One month before the 20th anniversary of the 1989 military crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrators, the tension continues to grow. Police in (read more…)

China Human Rights Briefing April 20-26, 2009

April 26, 2009 Comments Off

Please click here for the full China Human Rights Briefing in PDF China Human Rights Briefing Reporting human rights development from the grassroots April 20-26, 2009 HIGHLIGHTS More than four months after it was issued, Chinese officials continue to regard Charter 08 as a threat to their rule. On April (read more…)

China’s “Human Rights Action Plan”: Long Awaited, Short in Substance

April 20, 2009 Comments Off

China’s “Human Rights Action Plan”: Long Awaited, Short in Substance On April 13, the State Council Information Office issued China’s first National Human Rights Action Plan (available in English here). While CHRD welcomes the promulgation of this document, which undoubtedly marks one step forward in the Chinese government’s changing attitude (read more…)

China Human Rights Briefing April 14-19, 2009

April 19, 2009 Comments Off

China Human Rights Briefing Reporting human rights development from the grassroots April 14-19, 2009 Highlights A note to our readers: In order to keep up-to-date with developments and events in the human rights community, China Human Rights Briefing will now be issued as a weekly, rather than a bi-weekly, publication. (read more…)

China Human Rights Briefing April 1-14, 2009

April 14, 2009 Comments Off

China Human Rights Briefing Reporting human rights development from the grassroots April 1-14, 2009 HIGHLIGHTS On the eve of the release of China’s first “National Human Rights Plan of Action”, rights abuses continued apace across the country: – While the government pledged its commitment to rule of law and improving (read more…)

Beijing Lawyer Cheng Hai Assaulted by Officials for Representing Falun Going Practitioner

April 14, 2009 Comments Off

(Chinese Human Rights Defenders, April 14, 2009) – In the early morning hours of April 13, Beijing lawyer Cheng Hai (程海) was attacked and beaten while on his way to meet with a client in Chengdu. According to Cheng, those responsible for the attack were officials from the Jinyang General (read more…)

Shandong Professor Assaulted for Commemorating Reformist Leader Zhao Ziyang

April 6, 2009 Comments Off

(Chinese Human Rights Defenders, April 6, 2009) – Sun Wenguang (孙文广), a 75-year-old retired Shandong University professor and vocal dissident based in Jinan City, Shandong Province, was severely beaten on April 5 by a group of unidentified men on his way to the local cemetery to commemorate the life of (read more…)

Sichuan Activist Detained before Earthquake Anniversary

April 1, 2009 Comments Off

(Chinese Human Rights Defenders, April 1, 2009) – On March 28, Tan Zuoren (谭作人), an environmentalist and writer, was detained by Chengdu police on suspicion of “inciting subversion of state power”, CHRD learned today. It is believed that Tan was detained for mobilizing volunteers to conduct an independent investigation of (read more…)

Beijing Dissident Jiang Qisheng Summoned, Home Searched: Police Actions Stepped Up in Advance of Anniversary of Tiananmen Massacre

March 31, 2009 Comments Off

(Chinese Human Rights Defenders, March 31, 2009) – This morning, Jiang Qisheng (江棋生), a former 1989 prisoner, dissident writer, and vice-chairman of Independent Chinese PEN, was taken away from his home and interrogated by police. Officers searched his home and confiscated 3 computers, bank cards, many books, notebooks, and manuscripts. (read more…)

China Human Rights Briefing March 15-31, 2009

March 31, 2009 Comments Off

China Human Rights Briefing Reporting human rights development from the grassroots March 15-31, 2009 HIGHLIGHTS – As the dates of a number of sensitive anniversaries draw nearer, CHRD has observed a widening effort by authorities to control, harass, and intimidate citizens they believe pose a threat to officially mandated “harmony;” (read more…)

Beating and Detention of Petitioner Latest in Series of Heilongjiang Abuses

March 27, 2009 Comments Off

(Chinese Human Rights Defenders, March 27, 2009) – CHRD learned today the story of Chen Jinxia (陈金霞, aka Chen Qingxia [陈庆霞]), a petitioner from Dailing District, Yichun City, Heilongjiang Province, who has suffered nearly two years of arbitrary detention since she was first intercepted on April 24, 2007. Over the (read more…)