Human Rights in China
Amnesty International has documented widespread human rights violations in China. An estimated 500,000 people are currently enduring punitive detention without charge or trial, and millions are unable to access the legal system to seek redress for their grievances. Harassment, surveillance, house arrest, and imprisonment of human rights defenders are on the rise, and censorship of the Internet and other media has grown. Repression of minority groups, including Tibetans, Uighurs and Mongolians, and of Falun Gong practitioners and Christians who practice their religion outside state-sanctioned churches continues. While the recent reinstatement of Supreme People’s Court review of death penalty cases may result in lower numbers of executions, China remains the leading executioner in the world. Review our annual report and other reports for more information.
Legacy of the Beijing Olympics: Take Action!
"Legacy of the Beijing Olympics: China's Choice" is Amnesty International's campaign to improve the human rights situation in China in the run-up to the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics. AI will mobilize thousands globally to press for substantial reforms in four key areas: the death penalty; punitive detention without trial; treatment of human rights defenders; unwarranted censorship of the internet. » Learn more
Tiananmen Square anniversary vigil
June 4th marks the Anniversary of the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests and violent crackdown in China. Join Amnesty International members all over the world on Wednesday, June 4th to commemorate the victims of the crackdown and to demonstrate solidarity for those who continue to face repression today. Download the flyer for more information (PDF).
View the Slideshow
Rally and Vigil for Human Rights in China, April 8th and 9th, San Francisco, CA
Read the report
"People’s Republic of China: The Olympics countdown – crackdown on Tibetan protesters"
Get involved
Download the press engagement kit: "The Two Faces of the Bejing Olympics"
Call on the Chinese authorities to allow the Tiananmen Mothers to carry out their peaceful activities, to release those imprisoned in connection with the 1989 protests, and to carry out a full, independent and impartial investigation into the crackdown. » More actions
Summer Solidarity Action for Tiananmen Mothers
This summer, AIUSA activists can stand in solidarity with the Tiananmen mothers by sending them messages of support. Click here for more information.
Demand the Release of Hu Jia from Arbitrary Detention Hu Jia was sentenced on April 1, 2008 to three and a half years' imprisonment for "inciting subversion of state power." The Chinese authorities appear to have jailed him in order to silence his public criticism of China's human rights record ahead of the Beijing Olympics.
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Protect Tibetan Monks from Torture in China 15 Tibetan monks were detained on 10 March for staging a peaceful demonstration in Barkhor, Lhasa, the capital of Tibetan Autonomous Region. There is no information on their current whereabouts or of any charges brought against them. They are at high risk of torture and other ill treatment.
»Learn more | »PDF
Call for an Olympic Year of Freedom of Expression in China Leading up to the Beijing Olympics, a major question for China will be how it chooses to define its Olympic legacy. Will it be one where freedom of expression is respected and protected? Not if journalists like Shi Tao continue to be unjustly oppressed, sentenced and imprisoned.
»PDF | »WORD
TAKE ACTION! Urge China's Prime Minister Wen Jiabao to Abolish the Death Penalty Based on public reports, Amnesty International estimates that at least 1,010 people were executed and 2,790 sentenced to death in 2006 in China. The death penalty violates the Olympic ideal of preserving human dignity.
» Download the petition (PDF) to Prime Minister Wen Jiabao urging him to respect the Olympic ideal, and to take positive steps towards abolishing the death penalty in China.
Latest News
CHINA: Amnesty International Encouraged by Reported Release of 1,157 Individuals in TibetJune 20, 2008
China: More Than 1000 Still Unaccounted For in Tibet Lock-Down as Olympic Torch Approaches Region, Says Amnesty International
June 18, 2008
China: One thousand protesters unaccounted for in Tibet lock-down
June 18, 2008
China: Thousands of Amnesty supporters demand release of Tiananmen activists
June 03, 2008
USA: Former NBA Player John Amaechi Becomes Amnesty International's Olympic Ambassador for Human Rights
June 03, 2008
Asia Pacific: Regional Update from AI's Annual Report
May 28, 2008
Latest Reports
The death penalty worldwide developments in 2007April 15, 2008
China: The Olympics countdown - crackdown on Tibetan protesters
April 09, 2008
China: The Olympics countdown -- crackdown on activists threatens Olympics legacy
April 01, 2008
China: 'Strike hard' against beliefs
November 01, 2007
