UN Special Rapporteur Calls for Protection of Human Rights Defenders in China

Strategic Insights -

UN Special Rapporteur Mary Lawlor has expressed deep concern over the treatment of human rights defenders in China, including allegations of torture, refusal of medical aid, and denial of access to family and legal counsel. Lawlor has called on the Chinese authorities to provide a detailed response to these allegations and to ensure that detained human rights defenders are granted family and counsel visits, adequate medical attention, and are held in officially recognized places of detention.

Key Takeaways:

  • Seven imprisoned human rights defenders in China are allegedly subject to torture, refused medical aid, and denied access to family and legal counsel visits.
  • UN Special Rapporteur Mary Lawlor has called on the Chinese authorities to provide a detailed response to the allegations.
  • The Chinese authorities have been asked to uncover the fate of Gao Zhisheng, a prominent human rights lawyer who has been missing since 2017.
  • Enforced disappearances can constitute crimes against humanity under international law, and China's ratification of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment obliges it to comply with its provisions.
  • Detained human rights defenders have the right to medical care in critical circumstances (Rule 27 of the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners).
  • The International Law Commission has highlighted that the prohibition of torture is a jus cogens norm under international law.

Statistics:

  • Since 2017, prominent human rights lawyer Gao Zhisheng has been missing.
  • China ratified the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment on October 4, 1988.
  • Article 7(1)(f) of the Rome Statute defines crimes against humanity, which includes enforced disappearances as part of a widespread or systematic attack.

Sources:

(Rome Statute, International Law Commission)

Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (signed by China on October 4, 1988)

United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (the Nelson Mandela Rules)