September 2020

Exclusive briefing on targeting of house churches amid the COVID-19 pandemic

CSW has today published a new briefing containing extracts and analysis from an exclusive report by an experienced China researcher into the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on unregistered Protestant ‘house’ churches in China. Although the report author’s identity is known to CSW, it cannot be made public due to the threat of reprisals. Three  …

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New research on China’s urban house churches amid the COVID-19 pandemic

CSW is pleased to highlight an exclusive piece of research into the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on unregistered Protestant ‘house’ churches in China. The research, undertaken by an experienced researcher in May and June 2020, looks at three key cases: a police raid on Xingguang Church in Xiamen; an Easter crackdown on members of Early Rain Covenant Church in Chengdu; and a church-led effort to support hospitals and communities in Wuhan affected by the virus – an effort which was thwarted by the authorities.

HRC45: Oral statement during ID on the rights of older persons

Item 3: ID with the Independent Expert on the rights of older persons Organisation: Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) Speaker: Claire Denman Thank you, Madame President, CSW thanks the Independent Expert for her work, annual report and country visits.  The China country visit report states that older persons, including those from religious minority groups, continue to …

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Vatican extends agreement with Beijing amid freedom of religion or belief concerns

Pope Francis has signed off on a two-year extension of an agreement with the Chinese government on the appointment of bishops, according to Reuters. Catholics inside China and observers worldwide have raised concerns about the decision to extend the controversial agreement at a time of increasing violations of the right to freedom of religion or …

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The new national security law in Hong Kong and its potential impact on freedom of religion or belief

On 30 June 2020, a new national security law came into effect in Hong Kong, shortly after being passed by the National People’s Congress Standing Committee, China’s highest legislative body. The law prohibits secession, subversion, terrorism and ‘collusion with a foreign country or with external elements to endanger national security’, and was met with fierce opposition from activists, residents, legal experts and democratic governments around the world, who believe the law is a serious threat to human rights and fundamental freedoms.

Mongolian-speaking families resist government’s new language policy for schools

Thousands of ethnic Mongolian students and parents have boycotted classes in protest against the Chinese government’s decision to make Mandarin Chinese the language of instruction in three subjects in schools in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, referred to by some activists and rights groups as ‘Southern Mongolia’.

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