The 29 Principles has submitted information to the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women for its upcoming review of China's and Hong Kong's implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). The two submissions to the committee (click here for submission on China and submission on Hong Kong) focus on the oppression of women human rights defenders (WHRDs), in particular lawyers and their family members. We highlighted how WHRDs in China are facing intense suppression, with evidence demonstrating that they continue to face reprisals, prolonged detention, prosecution, and conviction on politically related charges. We are concerned about the impact of the Hong Kong National Security Law on women human rights lawyers in the territory. Patterns have shown it has led to political persecution, prolonged detention, prosecution, and gender-based violence. We call for the Committee to question the respective governments on their conventional obligations to uphold human rights protection and clarify their commitment to and compliance with CEDAW.
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On 8th April 2023, The 29 Principles successfully organised a seminar on "Political Violence in China and Hong Kong" at Nowhere Bookstore in Taipei. Around 30 participants attended the event and we had an active discussion on the widespread political violence in China and Hong Kong.
Chakra Ip, Executive Director of The 29 Principles and the seminar host, highlighted the increasing deterioration of the rule of law in Hong Kong. Dr. Teng Biao, a Chinese lawyer, legal scholar and The 29 Principles’ Board Member, discussed the systemic adoption of torture and ill-treatment in China, while Dr. Chen Yu-jie, an Assistant Research Professor at the Institutum Iurisprudentiae of Academia Sinica, discussed how the country utilises different mechanisms to maintain power in relation to the work of Hannah Arendt. Hsiao Kuei, the founder of Healing for HK, spoke about the psychological consequences of political violence, including the breakdown of relationships.
The 29 Principles appreciated the opportunity to share insights on the impact of political violence against human rights lawyers, defenders, and other citizens in China and Hong Kong. We extend our gratitude to Nowhere Bookstore for providing the venue and to all the participants for their support.
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Human Rights Lawyers in China
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Two prominent Chinese activists, lawyer Ding Jiaxi and legal scholar Xu Zhiyong, have been sentenced to 12 and 14 years in prison respectively for subversion, following more than three years in pre-trial detention. The closed-door trial took place in Shandong province in June 2022, with both having been detained in 2019 and 2020 respectively amidst a widespread crackdown on legal activists. Ding and Xu have opted to appeal their convictions, according to Radio Free Asia.
The pair co-founded the New Citizens' Movement in 2010, which campaigns for civil rights and government transparency. They were initially arrested in 2013 for participating in protests demanding equal social and educational benefits for migrant workers in Beijing.
Their convictions have sparked international public outcry. UN human rights chief, Volker Türk, expressed his concerns over the imprisonment sentence. Teng Biao, a Chinese human rights lawyer and friend of Ding and Xu, who is also one of our board members, stated that the Chinese Communist Party had an "exaggerated sense of insecurity" this year due to an economic slowdown, which would likely exacerbate the crackdown on civil society. According to a news report, dozens of people gathered in multiple cities across the US to protest against the imprisonment of Ding and Xu.
Along with other organisations, The 29 Principles issued a joint statement on the sentencing of Ding and Xu, condemning their sentencing, and demanding their release and expunging of all charges unless legitimate charges supported by credible evidence are presented in fair proceedings. We also call for an independent investigation into allegations of torture and ill-treatment, termination of arbitrary detention practices, and respect for the United Nations Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers to ensure lawyers can assist their clients without interference or threats.
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On 15 April 2023, Chinese human rights lawyer Yu Wensheng and his wife Xu Yan were criminally detained on suspicion of "picking quarrels and provoking trouble." Over seven police officers visited their home, verbally notifying their 18-year-old son about the couple's criminal detention without providing any written documentation. The son was also prohibited from taking photos. The police conducted a search and seized personal items without a warrant, and currently continue to guard the door, restricting the son's movements.
The couple were detained by Chinese authorities on their way to a meeting with the EU's ambassador to China and a senior EU official. The EU has lodged a protest with the Chinese foreign ministry and demanded their release. The detention came after the EU's foreign affairs chief cautioned China against any change to the status quo in Taiwan.
Yu Wensheng has previously been sentenced to a four-year prison term in June 2020 for “inciting subversion of state power,” and Xu Yan was held under close surveillance by the regime.
Along with other organisations, the 29 Principles issued a statement: Statement on the arrest of lawyer Yu Wensheng and his wife Xu Yan
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Prominent Chinese human rights lawyer Qin Yongpei, who has been detained since 1 Nov 2019, was sentenced to five years in prison for "inciting subversion of state power” on 31 March 2023. Mary Lawlor, UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, raised concerns over Qin's conviction noting Qin’s work in promoting human rights in China and establishing a support group for disbarred lawyers.
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Chinese human rights lawyer Zhou Shifeng was taken away by dozens of people from unknown authorities on 19 April 2023, and was released one day later. The 29 Principles learns that the human rights lawyer is still subjected to close surveillance from authorities.
Zhou was one of the lawyers arrested in the “709 Crackdown”. He was convicted for subverting state power in 2016 and sentenced to 7 years of imprisonment. Zhou served his sentence and was released in September 2022. After his release, the human rights lawyer was critical of the conditions and experiences that he came across during his detention. He complained about the non-compliance, lack of proper procedures and misconduct of Chinese public security throughout the process.
In March 2023, as also included in our last newsletter, Zhou has been forced to deregister his newly set-up 709 Consulting Group Co., Ltd.
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