All press releases on this site were first published on the CSW website.
Charges against human rights lawyer changed to subversion
The charges against human rights lawyer Chang Weiping have been changed from ‘inciting subversion’ to ‘subversion’, it emerged last week. Both charges are frequently used to target human rights defenders in China. Chang Weiping has been in detention since 22 October 2020. Prior to his detention, he represented clients in…
EU set to sanction Chinese officials linked to Uyghur persecution
Credit: REUTERS/Jason Lee The European Union (EU) is expected to apply sanctions later this month against four individuals and one entity in China’s Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region in connection with human rights abuses against the Uyghur people. Diplomats speaking to the Wall Street Journal and EU Observer said the sanctions,…
Increase in online hostility towards churches in Hebei province in January
New research by CSW points to a sudden and significant increase in online hostility towards Christians in Hebei Province after internet users alleged that the January 2021 coronavirus outbreak there originated in a church. CSW estimates that over 1,000 related comments were posted before they were eventually censored. Observers have…
Families of human rights defenders separated at Chinese New Year
As millions of people across China prepare to celebrate the Spring Festival, hundreds of human rights defenders remain separated from their families. The Spring Festival marks the lunar new year, and for many in China, it is traditionally a time to be with family and friends. However, many human rights…
Human rights lawyer disbarred as authorities launch crackdown on citizen journalists
Authorities in China have revoked the licence of human rights lawyer Ren Quanniu, who represented Chinese Christian activist Zhang Zhan in 2020. The news comes as the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)’s central propaganda department has announced plans to step up regulation of the country’s citizen journalism. Ren stands accused by…
Human rights lawyer faces disbarment
A hearing has been scheduled for 29 January 2021 in Zhengzhou, Henan, concerning the proposed disbarment of Ren Quanniu, a human rights lawyer who represented Chinese Christian activist Zhang Zhan and offered legal advice to the family of one of 12 Hong Kong youths arrested at sea as they tried…
36 NGOs call for human rights protections in EU-China Comprehensive Agreement on Investment
CSW and 35 other civil society organisations (CSOs) have written to the European Institutions calling for the inclusion of enforceable human rights clauses in the EU-China Comprehensive Agreement on Investment (CAI) ahead of the upcoming Plenary session of the European Parliament. The letter raises concerns regarding the omission of a…
Lawyer for imprisoned citizen journalist and Hong Kong activists may have license revoked
On 4 January Ren Qiuanniu, the lawyer who defended Chinese human rights defender Zhang Zhan, received a letter from the Chinese authorities saying that his license to practice as a lawyer may be revoked. Zhang was sentenced to four years in prison on 28 December on charges of “picking quarrels…
Violations against religious communities continue over Christmas and New Year period
As in previous years, the period between Christmas and New Year saw human rights violations against religious communities, activists and lawyers in China. There were also several developments outside China which could impact the human rights situation in the country. On Christmas Day, China Aid reported that the Chinese Communist…
Renewed calls for action on forced labour in Uyghur region as further evidence emerges
CSW has renewed its call for companies to ensure that they are not complicit in the use of forced labour in the Uyghur region, following fresh evidence of abuses underway in the region. A new report by Dr. Adrian Zenz, published by the Center for Global Policy on 14 December,…
