Slide Show | Chinese Human Rights Defenders

China’s ‘White Paper’ Protests: 3 Years Later

November 26, 2025 Comments Off

Three years ago this week, people across China, outraged by a deadly fire in Urumqi and profoundly frustrated by the government’s harsh “zero-COVID” policies, took part in impromptu protests, some of the most visible expressions public discontent since the June 4, 1989 Tiananmen pro-democracy demonstrations. Most chose to simply hold aloft blank pieces (read more…)

Alert: Deaths in detention should prompt investigations, prosecutions

November 25, 2025 Comments Off

(Network of Chinese Human Rights Defenders, November 25, 2025) — Chinese website Rights Defence Network reported in recent days that 83-year-old Falun Gong practitioner Zhao Wenxiu died in March 2025 while serving a 7.5-year prison sentence in Chengdu, Sichuan Province. Zhao was wrongfully prosecuted in 2019 for exercising her right (read more…)

Joint NGO letter to demand immediate and unconditional release of Chow Hang-tung and Lee Cheuk-yan

October 29, 2025 Comments Off

CHRD joined 91 other civil society organizations and individuals to call on the governments of the G7 and EU/EEA members to exert diplomatic pressure on the Hong Kong government to release Chow Hang-tung and Lee Cheuk-yan immediately and unconditionally.

Chinese authorities expand crackdown on Christian house churches

October 27, 2025 Comments Off

(Network of Chinese Human Rights Defenders, October 27, 2025) – The Chinese government’s October detentions of dozens of Christians from house churches indicate an acceleration of its campaign against religious freedom. Over the past two years, church leaders and congregants across the country appear to be increasingly targeted for arbitrary (read more…)

The real fight for women’s rights in China

October 16, 2025 Comments Off

On Monday, Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) addressed the Leaders’ Meeting on Women in Beijing, extolling his government’s support for many aspects of women’s rights. Yet having grown up in China, my vivid memories over the past few decades paint a starkly different picture of how women have fought to (read more…)

Joint Statement from Civil Society Groups on the Chinese Government’s Arbitrary Detention of Swedish publisher Gui Minhai

October 15, 2025 Comments Off

We, the undersigned press freedom, journalists’, human rights, international organisations, strongly condemn the Chinese government’s ongoing arbitrary detention of Swedish publisher and writer Gui Minhai on the 10th anniversary of his kidnapping.

China: End Decade-long Disappearance of Swedish Publisher Gui Minhai

October 13, 2025 Comments Off

(Chinese Human Rights Defenders, October 13, 2025)—Chinese authorities should immediately release Gui Minhai, a Swedish publisher disappeared, arbitrarily detained, and wrongfully prosecuted since 2015, and allow him to leave China.

Revised Prison Law fails to address systemic human rights concerns in Chinese prisons

October 10, 2025 Comments Off

(Network of Chinese Human Rights Defenders—October 9, 2025) The proposed revisions to the Prison Law entrench the Chinese government’s disdain for its international human rights obligations, especially around the prohibition of torture, and enshrine vague “national security” restrictions limiting freedom of expression and other rights.

Alert: Trial imminent for Chinese lawyer arbitrarily detained and allegedly tortured

October 8, 2025 Comments Off

(Network of Chinese Human Rights Defenders, October 8, 2025)–Human rights lawyer Zhang Wenpeng is likely to soon be tried on charges of “picking quarrels and provoking trouble” in Sanya, Hainan Province. Prosecutors indicted him on July 14, 2025, and transferred the case to court. Under Chinese law, a verdict should (read more…)

China: Court must quash charges and immediately release journalist Zhang Zhan

September 17, 2025 Comments Off

(Network of Chinese Human Rights Defenders—September 17, 2025) After over a year in pre-trial detention, Chinese journalist Zhang Zhan is reportedly to face trial on Friday, September 19 at the Pudong New District Court in Shanghai.

Hong Kong/China: Release Jimmy Lai, end sham national security trial

August 28, 2025 Comments Off

(Network of Chinese Human Rights Defenders—August 28, 2025) Closing statements in Hong Kong authorities’ politicized prosecution of pro-democracy activist and former media owner Jimmy Lai concluded today. The three judges hearing the case are expected to hand down a verdict before the end of the year.

China: Release Journalist Zhang Zhan and Protect Freedom of Expression

August 27, 2025 Comments Off

(Network of Chinese Human Rights Defenders—August 27, 2025) Ahead of the one-year anniversary of the most recent arrest of Chinese journalist Zhang Zhan for her online writing and activism, CHRD is calling for her immediate and unconditional release, and for the Chinese government to end its restrictions on journalism and (read more…)