China: HRDs were inimidated and prevented from taking part in UPR session
Event- Country
- China
- Initial Date
- Sep 14, 2013
- Event Description
United Nations independent experts today voiced serious concern over reports that Chinese activists have been intimidated and prevented from taking part in a major assessment of the human rights situation in the country. "Intimidating civil society members who seek to contribute to such an important international dialogue is completely unacceptable," said the Geneva-based experts in a news release. "Ensuring the free participation of civil society actors, including human rights defenders, and other national stakeholders, in this process is crucial." Activists have reportedly been threatened, arrested or banned from leaving China in the run-up to the second assessment of the country's record by the UN Human Rights Council through its Universal Periodic Review (UPR) mechanism. The review will take place on 22 October 2013 in Geneva. "These cases seem part of a pattern of increased harassment by China of those calling for greater accountability of public officials, transparency and political and legal reforms," the experts said. The experts received information that rights defenders Cao Shunli and Chen Jianfang were allegedly prevented from boarding flights to Geneva where they were due to participate in activities organized on the margins of a Human Rights Council session in September. Chen Jianfang was reportedly told that she was barred from travelling abroad for life, while Cao Shunli was detained by Chinese security authorities on 14 September. Cao Shunli's family has allegedly not received any formal notification of her detention. It was also reported that Chinese civil society activists, who have been demonstrating since June to defend their right to participate and receive information on China's report to the UPR, have been threatened by local authorities on various occasions. "These reports suggest there have been acts of reprisals against people who seek to cooperate with the UN," said Special Rapporteur on human rights defenders Margaret Sekaggya. "Defenders play a key role in holding States to account for the implementation of their human rights obligations, including at the international level. Their legitimate work should be fully respected." China accepted recommendations made during its first review in 2009 to strengthen its engagement with civil society to promote and protect human rights. The Government informed the UN experts that non-governmental organizations were consulted ahead of the UPR session and that the draft of the national report was available on its official website for comments. Special Rapporteur on freedom of opinion and expression, Frank La Rue, said that even if some organizations had participated in the UPR preparations, "nothing can justify excluding legitimate voices through intimidation." "Access to information and an open space for the free exchange of opinions and ideas are essential to ensure a proper review of the human rights record of any country," Mr. La Rue stressed. Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association, Maina Kai said preventing people to participate in the UPR and from demonstrating peacefully constitutes a breach of China's international obligations to respect the right to freedom of peaceful assembly. "This obligation includes facilitating peaceful protests by providing protestors with access to public space, and protecting them, where necessary, against any threats," he said. Regarding the situation of Ms. Cao, the Working Group on enforced or involuntary disappearances underlined that information on her detention, including the reasons and place of detention, should be made immediately available to her family members and counsel. The experts have also asked the Chinese authorities for further information regarding these allegations and called for the immediate release of all those detained after peacefully protesting for more civil society participation in the UPR process and advocating for human rights and good governance. "These serious allegations must be investigated thoroughly and impartially by the Chinese authorities," the experts concluded. Independent experts or special rapporteurs are appointed by the UN Human Rights Council to examine and report back, in an unpaid capacity, on specific human rights themes. UPDATE 17/07/2013 JUA sent to China. UPDATE 23/09/2013 China acknowledgement of JUA. UPDATE 01/10/2013: JUA again issued by the Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances; the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression; the Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association; and the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders. UPDATE 21/10/2013: Cao Shunli was formally charged with "picking quarrels and making trouble." Cao was originally detained in September when attempting to leave the country for a human rights training in Geneva. The state of her health is poor and she has been refused medical treatment. UPDATE 04/11/2013: Cao Shunli has been refused access to medicine for her serious liver disease since her detention five weeks previously. UPDATE 14/11/2013: Joint Urgent Appeal (JUA) addressed to China by the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression; the Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association; the Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health; the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders; and the Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. UPDATE 07/01/2014: China sent a brief clarification regarding the 01/10/2013 JUA. UPDATE 24/01/2014: China acknowledged receipt of the 14/11/2013 JUA. UPDATE 28/02/2014: Cao is in critical condition due to authorities' withholding of medical care. UPDATE 14/03/2014: Cao Shunli died at 309 Military Hospital in Beijing. Cao suffered from liver cirrhosis, tuberculosis, and uterine fibroids, but her lawyer's numerous requests for medical parole were ignored and she was denied medical treatment until she was in critical condition. In late February 2014, Cao was transferred to Beijing Qinghe 999 Hospital, and in March to the 309 Military Hospital, where she passed away.
- Impact of Event
- 2
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention
- Enforced Disappearance
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of movement
- Source
United Nations | BBC News | UN OHCHR | UN OHCHR | UN OHCHR | Radio Free Asia?searchterm:utf8:ustring=human+rights) | Radio Free Asia?searchterm:utf8:ustring=human+rights) | UN OHCHR | UN OHCHRChina JUA (14/11/2013) | UN OHCHR | Reuters | Radio Free Asia | [China Post](http://China Post | New York Times?_r=0) | China Digital Times
- Monitoring Status
- Not active
- Event Location
Latitude: 35.86166000000001
Longitude: 104.195397
- Event Location
- Summary for Publications
On 14 September 2013, Cao Shunli and Chen Jianfang were allegedly prevented from boarding flights to Geneva where they were due to participate in activities organized on the margins of a Human Rights Council session in September. Chen Jianfang was reportedly told that she was barred from travelling abroad for life, while Cao Shunli was detained by Chinese security authorities. Cao Shunli's family has allegedly not received any formal notification of her detention. UPDATE 17/07/2013 JUA sent to China. UPDATE 23/09/2013 China acknowledgement of JUA. UPDATE 01/10/2013: JUA again issued by the Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances; the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression; the Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association; and the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders. UPDATE 21/10/2013: Cao Shunli was formally charged with "picking quarrels and making trouble." Cao was originally detained in September when attempting to leave the country for a human rights training in Geneva. The state of her health is poor and she has been refused medical treatment. UPDATE 04/11/2013: Cao Shunli has been refused access to medicine for her serious liver disease since her detention five weeks previously. UPDATE 14/11/2013: Joint Urgent Appeal (JUA) addressed to China by the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression; the Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association; the Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health; the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders; and the Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. UPDATE 07/01/2014: China sent a brief clarification regarding the 01/10/2013 JUA. UPDATE 24/01/24: China acknowledged receipt of the 14/11/2013 JUA. UPDATE 28/02/2014: Cao is in critical condition due to authorities' withholding of medical care. UPDATE 14/03/2014: Cao Shunli died at 309 Military Hospital in Beijing. Cao suffered from liver cirrhosis, tuberculosis, and uterine fibroids, but her lawyer's numerous requests for medical parole were ignored and she was denied medical treatment until she was in critical condition. In late February 2014, Cao was transferred to Beijing Qinghe 999 Hospital, and in March to the 309 Military Hospital, where she passed away.