Slide Show - Chinese Human Rights DefendersChinese Human Rights Defenders

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…)

Joint letter demands China release Lawyer Xie Yang and end sham trial

August 27, 2025 Comments Off

The Network of Chinese Human Rights Defenders has co-signed a letter to Li Qiang, Premier of the People’s Republic of China, calling for an end to the unfair trial and the release of human rights lawyer Xie Yang.

Joint Letter to UK Prime Minister Calling for the Urgent Release of Jimmy Lai

August 21, 2025 Comments Off

The Network of Chinese Human Rights Defenders, together with 72 other human rights organizations, calls on UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer to secure the release of publisher Jimmy Lai. A 77-year-old British citizen, Lai’s health has dangerously deteriorated after more than 1,680 days in detention in Hong Kong.

China: Release Lawyer Gao Zhisheng, Forcibly Disappeared Since 2017

August 13, 2025 Comments Off

(Network of Chinese Human Rights Defenders—August 12, 2025) Ahead of the eighth anniversary of the disappearance of human rights lawyer Gao Zhisheng, CHRD calls on the Chinese government to clarify his whereabouts and status, and to publicly commit to ending its practice of forcibly disappearing human rights defenders. Gao has (read more…)

In Argentina, a Bold Step for Global Justice: Holding the Chinese Government Accountable for Atrocities Against Uyghurs

July 31, 2025 Comments Off

At a time when authoritarian governments are assaulting international human rights law as never before, Argentina’s highest criminal court has taken an extraordinarily positive step. On June 18, the Federal Court of Criminal Cassation held that a case brought by Uyghurs against Chinese government officials for alleged crimes against humanity and genocide should proceed. (read more…)

China: Halt Sham Trial and Release Human Rights Lawyer Xie Yang

July 30, 2025 Comments Off

(Network of Chinese Human Rights Defenders—July 30, 2025) On July 30, 2025, the Changsha Intermediate Court in Hunan Province tried human rights lawyer Xie Yang behind closed doors on charges of “inciting subversion of state power.” Those charges stem from Xie Yang’s remarks online and to foreign journalists about political (read more…)

“The Status of Democracy and Human Rights in Hong Kong, Five Years After the PRC’s Judicial Takeover”

July 24, 2025 Comments Off

Chinese Human Rights Defenders (CHRD) has documented deepening repression under Chinese President Xi Jinping since he assumed power in late 2012, including significantly curtailing the human rights of seven million Hong Kong people. Although Beijing’s tactics there include an attempt to gut Hong Kong’s legal protections for human rights, it (read more…)

Beijing’s human rights violations should be on the agenda at EU-China Summit

July 22, 2025 Comments Off

(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 (read more…)

Joint NGO letter ahead of EU-China Summit

July 17, 2025 Comments Off

Ahead of the upcoming EU-China Summit in China on July 24–25, 17 organizations wrote to President Costa and President von der Leyen, urging them to prioritize human rights and use the Summit as an opportunity to ensure justice for victims and survivors of Beijing’s violations. We call on the EU (read more…)