Arbitrary arrest of at least nine women's and LGBTI rights defenders

CHN 001 / 0315 / OBS 018Arbitrary arrests / Arbitrary detention /Judicial harassment / Denial of access to lawyersPeople’s Republic of ChinaMarch 13, 2015 The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, a joint programme of the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) and the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), requests your urgent intervention on the following situation in the People’s Republic of China (PRC). Description of the situation: The Observatory has been informed by reliable sources about the arbitrary arrest of at least nine women's and LGBTI rights defenders, namely, Ms. Li Tingting, also known as “Li Maizi”, Manager of the LGBTI program at the Beijing Yirenping Center, Ms. Wu Rongrong, Founder and Executive Director of the Weizhiming Women’s Center in Guangzhou, Ms. Zheng Churan, staff member of Yirenping based in Guangzhou, Ms. Wei Tingting, Director of LGBTI rights organization Ji’ande in Beijing, Ms. Wang Man, Beijing-based coordinator for the Global Call to Action Against Poverty (GCAP), Ms. Xu Ding, member of the LGBTI group Rainbow Coalition in Wuhan, Ms. Yu Lian, student volunteer at the Beijing Yirenping Center, Ms. Ai Ke, coordinator of the Chinese production of the play “The Vagina Monologues”, and Ms. Gao Lei a trans-gender rights activist, Founder of Good Men for Feminism, and the continuing arbitrary detention of five of them. According to the information received, on March 6-7, 2015, the police arrested Ms. Li Tingting, also known as “Li Maizi”, Ms. Wu Rongrong, Ms. Zheng Churan, Ms. Wei Tingting, Ms. Wang Man, Ms. Xu Ding, Ms. Yu Lian, Ms. Ai Ke, Ms. Gao Lei, and Ms. Xiao La. The nine defenders have been promoting equal rights for women in the country and were about to launch a nationwide campaign to raise awareness about sexual harassment aboard public transportation and to join a march against sexual harassment in a Beijing park on the eve of the International Women's Day on March 8. In light of the National People's Congress and the Chinese People's Political consultative conference which began on March 5, authorities have increased their surveillance and repression of NGOs throughout the country. Four were released on March 8, the evening after being interrogated, namely Ms. Xu Ding, Ms. Yu Lian, Ms. Ai Ke, Ms. Gao Lei, and Ms. Xiao La. As of issuing this appeal, at least five others remain arbitrarily detained namely Ms. Li Tingting, also known as “Li Maizi”, Ms. Wu Rongrong, Ms. Zheng Churan, Ms. Wei Tingting and Ms. Wang Man. On March 12, the five were put under criminal detention on charges of ”picking quarrels and provoking troubles” and transferred to Haidian District Detention Center in Beijing. If convicted, they face up to five years in prison. According to the information received, only Li Tingting has been allowed to see her lawyer; the other four have been denied access to their lawyers since their arrest. Li Tingting's first meeting her lawyer took place on March 12 in Beijing, one week after her arrest. Li Tingting mentioned that on the day of her arrest, the police officers did not present their badges. Her lawyer observed that she seems to be in good health and that she stands by her innocence of any wrongdoing. The Observatory was also informed that the houses of Ms. Li Tingting, Ms. Zheng Churan and Ms. Wu Rongrong were searched and some of the banners and other materials meant for use during the anti-sexual harassment campaign were seized. Moreover, Ms. Zheng Churan and Ms. Wu Rongrong, who were arrested in Guangzhou, were transported to Beijing for their detention, which is 2,000 kilometres from their residence. This increases the difficulties they face in being able to communicate with their lawyers and families. The Observatory is also concerned about Ms Wu Rongrong's health in detention, as she suffers from diabetes and severe digestion issues and may not receive proper medical care in detention. Her lawyer has requested an assessment of her health in detention, but sources indicate that authorities have not yet responded to this request. All of the nine activists arrested on March 6 and 7 have fought for the rights of individuals suffering from HIV/AIDs and Hepatitis B; disabled persons; women discriminated against in rural land entitlement cases, employment, and higher education; female victims of rape or sexual harassment; as well as the rights of LGBTI individuals. Furthermore, Ms. Li Tingting, Ms. Wu Rongrong and Ms. Zheng Churan have actively promoted the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) in China, by conducting trainings, disseminating information, organizing events to raise public awareness, documenting cases of rights violations, and participating in CEDAW reviews. It is worth noting that the CEDAW Committee, in its concluding observations in November 2014, expressed its concerns about reprisals against NGOs and activists taking part in the review process and about restrictions and censorship faced by NGOs in China. The Observatory strongly condemns the arbitrary arrest of all nine above-mentioned activists and further condemns the ongoing arbitrary detention and judicial harassment of Ms. Li Tingting, Ms. Wu Rongrong, Ms. Zheng Churan, Ms. Wei Tingting, and Ms. Wang Man, which seem aimed only at preventing them from carrying out their peaceful human rights activities. The Observatory calls upon the Chinese authorities to immediately and unconditionally release these activists. The Observatory is further concerned by the latest measures introduced by the Chinese government regulating the work of NGOs, including a draft law to restrict the funding and the operations of foreign NGOs in China's mainland by requiring their projects and work to be pre-approved by government agencies. Actions requested: Please write to the authorities in the People’s Republic of China, urging them to: i. Immediately and unconditionally release Ms. Li Tingting, Ms. Wu Rongrong, Ms. Zheng Churan, Ms. Wei Tingting, and Ms. Wang Man, since their detention is arbitrary and seems only aimed at sanctioning their human rights activities; ii. Guarantee in all circumstances the physical and psychological integrity of Ms. Li Tingting, also known as “Li Maizi”, Ms. Wu Rongrong, Ms. Zheng Churan, Ms. Wei Tingting, Ms. Wang Man, Ms. Xu Ding, Ms. Yu Lian, Ms. Ai Ke, Ms. Gao Lei, and Ms. Xiao La, as well as of all human rights defenders in the People’s Republic of China; iii. Put an end to the harassment - including at the judicial level - against Ms. Li Tingting, Ms. Wu Rongrong, Ms. Zheng Churan, Ms. Wei Tingting, and Ms. Wang Man, as well as against all human rights defenders in the People’s Republic of China; iv. Conform with the provisions of the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations on December 9, 1998, especially:
- Article 1, which states that “everyone has the right, individually and in association with others, to promote and to strive for the protection and realisation of human rights and fundamental freedoms at the national and international levels”; and
- Article 12.2, which provides that “the State shall take all necessary measures to ensure the protection by the competent authorities of everyone, individually and in association with others, against any violence, threats, retaliation, de facto or de jure adverse discrimination, pressure or any other arbitrary action as a consequence of his or her legitimate exercise of the rights referred to in the present Declaration”; v. Ensure in all circumstances respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms in accordance with international human rights standards and international instruments ratified by the People’s Republic of China. Addresses: • Mr. LI Keqiang, Prime Minister of the People’s Republic of China: Guojia Zongli, The State Council General Office, 2 Fuyoujie, Xichengqu, Beijingshi 100017, People’s Republic of China; Fax: +86 10 65961109 (c/o Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
• Ms. WU Aiying, Minister of Justice of the People’s Republic of China: Buzhang Sifabu, 10 Chaoyangmen Nandajie, Chaoyangqu, Beijingshi 100020, People’s Republic of China; Fax: +86 10 6529 2345; Email: minister@legalinfo.gov.cn / pfmaster@legalinfo.gov.cn
• Mr. YANG Jiechi, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China: Buzhang Waijiaobu, 2 Chaoyangmen Nandajie, Beijingshi 100701, People’s Republic of China; Fax: +86 10 6588 2594; Email: ipc@fmprc.gov.cn
• Mr. GUO Shengkun, Minister of Public Security of the People’s Republic of China: Buzhang, Gong’anbu, 14 Dongchang’anjie, Dongchengqu, Beijingshi 100741, People’s Republic of China; Fax: +86 10 63099216
• Ambassador WU Hailong, Permanent Mission of the People’s Republic of China to the United Nations: Chemin de Surville 11, P.O. Box 85, 1213 Petit-Lancy 2, Geneva, Switzerland; Fax: +41 22 7937014; E-mail: mission.china@ties.itu.int;
• Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Brussels: Avenue de Tervuren, 1150 Woluwe Saint-Pierre, Belgium; Tel: +32-2-7711497, +32-2-7711495; Fax: +32-2-7792895; Email: chinaemb_be@mfa.gov.cn Please also write to the diplomatic mission or embassy of the People’s Republic of China in your respective country.