China

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HRF & Lantos to Democracies: Leave Your Olympic Box Seats Empty in Protest

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NEW YORK (January 4, 2022) — With the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics one month away, the Human Rights Foundation (HRF) and the Lantos Foundation for Human Rights & Justice (Lantos Foundation) call on democratic governments to commit to a diplomatic boycott of the Games, and refuse to send official representation. By leaving their box seats empty, particularly at the marquee event of the Opening Ceremonies, democratic nations can send a powerful message in support of fundamental human rights.

Authoritarian regimes have historically weaponized global sporting events, such as the Olympics, to whitewash their human rights abuses. The glitz and glamor of such events has drowned out the suffering of millions of people living under dictatorships, and allows these authoritarian regimes — among them, China’s regime — to grandstand on the world stage alongside leaders from democratic countries. With Xi Jinping at its helm, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has belligerently attacked fundamental human rights in Tibet, the Uyghur Region (Xinjiang), and Hong Kong, and has unleashed its economic might to silence critics globally.

As a response to the CCP’s abuses, in December 2021, the Biden Administration announced a diplomatic boycott of the upcoming Olympics in China, which are scheduled to take place from February 4-20. Among the human rights violations specified by the Biden administration, were China’s mass detention camps in the Uyghur Region (Xinjiang) and its campaign of forced sterilization against the Uyghurs. Several other countries, including Canada, Australia, Lithuania, and the United Kingdom have also announced diplomatic boycotts, similarly citing China’s appalling human rights record and the COVID-19 pandemic. 

“The Olympics, which aim to unify nations and promote shared values like respect for human dignity, must not be weaponized as a stage for China’s authoritarian government to whitewash its abuses. The very least that governments can do, is to show their solidarity with the people of Tibet, the Uyghur Region, and Hong Kong by leaving their seats empty at the Olympic Games,” said HRF President Céline Assaf-Boustani. “We applaud the governments that have already committed to diplomatic boycotts, and we encourage all other countries that value human rights, justice, and the rule of law to follow suit. It is imperative for the global community to stand together to send a powerful message to the CCP that its human rights abuses will not be tolerated.” 

With its appalling human rights record, Beijing should never have been given the opportunity to become the first city in history to host both the Summer and Winter Olympic Games. However, despite international public outcry against the host country’s abuses and the diplomatic boycott commitments already made by democratic governments, the 2022 Olympics appear poised to go ahead as planned. 

“The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has demonstrated its utter disregard for human rights by awarding Beijing the Olympics, even though its human rights violations have only grown in severity since Beijing last hosted the Summer Games in 2008,” said President of the Lantos Foundation Katrina Lantos Swett. “The IOC may be willing to overlook the CCP’s misdeeds, but the international community cannot, and must not. Countries around the world can make known their support for the human rights and dignity of all people by refusing to dignify the 2022 Winter Olympics, which some have dubbed the ‘Genocide Games,’ with official representation.”

As HRF and the Lantos Foundation join forces in their condemnation of China’s human rights violations and calls for diplomatic boycotts of the Olympics, it is more important than ever that the international community boldly take a stand against the CCP over its shameless disregard for human rights and the rule of law. 

More information about HRF and the Lantos Foundation’s “Empty Box” Campaign, urging governments to leave their Olympic box seats empty in peaceful protest, is available here. 

To learn more about how the Olympics can legitimize the rule of authoritarian regimes, read HRF CEO Thor Halvorssen and Lantos Foundation President Katrina Lantos Swett’s op-ed, Don’t Let Dictators Grandstand with World Leaders in Tokyo. Reclaim Olympics Values.

The Human Rights Foundation (HRF) is a nonpartisan nonprofit organization that promotes and protects human rights globally, with a focus on closed societies. For interview requests of further comment, please e-mail media@hrf.org.

The Lantos Foundation for Human Rights & Justice was established to carry forward the legacy of Congressman Tom Lantos, the only Holocaust survivor ever elected to the U.S. Congress and a leading human rights champion. The Foundation works with a range of partners on issues that span the globe, with a focus on rule of law and religious freedom. For media requests, please e-mail Chelsea Hedquist at chelsea@lantosfoundation.org.

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Open letter to Walt Disney Company CEO : Disney's dishonor

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Lantos Foundation President Dr. Katrina Lantos Swett has written the following open letter to Robert Chapek, CEO of the Walt Disney Company, in response to Disney’s shameful decision to publicly thank Xinjiang Province officials in the credits of the film Mulan :

Dear Mr. Chapek,

The story of Mulan, as you well know, inspires us with its message that one person, no matter how insignificant or unlikely a hero, can be a powerful force for good. For a small human rights organization with limited resources, that message certainly resonates. However, the Walt Disney Company’s decision to publicly thank Xinjiang Province officials in China also sends a powerful message – that human rights are of little consequence or concern to your company.

One could easily question Disney’s decision to film Mulan in a region that is well-documented as being the site of genocidal crimes and the largest incarceration of an innocent population since the dark days of World War II. That choice, alone, indicates a willingness to turn a blind eye to the plight of the Uyghur community in Xinjiang. However, it is even more galling that Disney would go so far as to specifically extend a special thanks in the credits of the film to the very individuals and organizations that have perpetrated the rampant human rights abuses in Xinjiang. A few short lines in the credits of a feature film may not seem of great consequence at first glance. But these lines provide a false cloak of legitimacy to organizations that deserve reproach and sanction, much more than they deserve any form of gratitude or praise.

The legendary character of Mulan stood up to her foes, despite her lack of power or influence. The Walt Disney Company has both, in spades. But instead of using your power and vast resources to be a force for good, your decisions have – unwittingly or not – legitimized some of the greatest human rights abusers of our time. No amount of happy endings on the big screen can compensate for this moral failure.

We call on you to immediately edit the credits in Mulan to remove all references to human rights abusers in Xinjiang province. However, at a time when many corporations are stepping up and openly recognizing their failure to adequately take a stand for social justice and human rights, a leading corporation like Disney must do more than simply correct a terrible error in judgment. You must go a step further. We urge you in the strongest terms to donate a significant portion of the profits from Mulan to any of the numerous groups advocating on behalf of and working to improve the conditions of the oppressed Uyghurs of Xinjiang. This would represent at least a small step to repairing the damage done by your apparent disregard for upholding and respecting human rights.

The next and most important step will be to look inward and carefully consider whether Disney is willing to put aside human rights in the pursuit of profits. The stories you tell may delight and inspire, but they are, after all, only stories. The choices you make and the example you set as a corporate leader will be your lasting legacy, more so than the tales you spin on the silver screen.

Sincerely,

Dr. Katrina Lantos Swett

President

Statement on Benedict Rogers & Chinese Threats

We applaud the commendable efforts of Benedict Rogers to publicize the harassment he, his family, and his neighbors have faced from China in response to his efforts to ensure freedom, human rights, and rule of law in Hong Kong. Reading his tales of anonymous letters containing veiled threats, the danger faced by those who dare to challenge the absolute power of the Chinese government is laid bare. As you read, please pause to consider how much worse it must be on a daily basis for Hong Kong based youth activists like Joshua Wong. If this level of harassment is happening to an established British citizen, then we can only imagine the pressure on Hong Kongers themselves. Joshua’s continued democracy work in the face of obvious threats from the Chinese government is exactly why he was chosen to receive the 10th Annual Tom Lantos Human Rights Prize later this year in Washington, DC.

Dr. Yang Jianli's Speech, Candle Light Vigil Commemorating the 29th Anniversary of 1989 Tiananmen Square Massacre

Ladies and gentlemen, dear friends, I am honored and humbled to stand together with you tonight to remember our brothers and sisters who were killed in the Tiananmen Massacre.

In the spring of 1989, college students in China led a movement calling for freedom and democracy. They asked for more transparency and less corruption from their government. Their peaceful protest soon gained widespread support, attracting intellectuals, journalists, and labor leaders.  Millions of people in Beijing joined them, and almost all classes of Chinese society-from all over China-sympathized with their aims.

On the night of June 3, 1989, PLA tanks and troops swept into the square and opened fire on students.

Tiananmen was an event that changed my life and the lives of many others.  I was at Tiananmen when the tanks rolled in. I had been studying Mathematics at the UC Berkeley when I went back to China to join the student movement. On June 4, I saw my countrymen crushed beneath tank treads and felled by machine-gun fire. I was among the lucky who survived and escaped. I managed to avoid arrest and return to the United States.

Since that day, I have committed my life to fighting for a China that will not ride roughshod over the fundamental human rights of its people.

The demonstrations of 1989 were an expression of a spirit that has always been present in the people of China-a spirit that is present in all of humanity.  The struggle that began in Tiananmen Square 29 years ago continues today. It gave birth to an era of the rise of human rights consciousness among the Chinese people. For the first time in history, the Chinese government faced massive international criticism for its human rights record. Rising dissent at home and pressure from abroad have together helped bring about significant developments in the area of human rights, though much work remains to be done.

Tonight I ask you to help ensure that the spirit of June 4 continues to change China. The noble souls of the Chinese people who died in the crackdown are not yet fully honored-not because so many are unknown, but because the goals of their sacrifice are still suppressed by the CCP regime.  Those of us here know that honoring our fallen brothers and sisters with words alone falls terribly short if we do not bring those words to life by honoring them equally with deeds worthy of their sacrifice. We must persist in our efforts to replace lies with truth, atrocity with humanity, and tyranny with democracy. Let us stand together with those many many individuals in China who bravely put themselves forward as obstacles against the forces of autocracy.  Their fight is our fight, and we need only repay their courage with our love, support, and unified engagement to see their victory through to its rightful end: a just and free China.

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Statement from Dr. Lantos Swett, President of the Lantos Foundation, on the release of Nobel Prize Laureate Liu Xiaobo

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"Today, the world received word that the Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, Liu Xiaobo was released from Chinese prison. What should have been an occasion of joy and celebration is instead a somber moment of reflection. It is reported that this brave human rights activist is suffering from terminal liver cancer. Following just a few days after the tragic death of Otto Warmbier at the hands of a brutal North Korean government, it is a stark reminder of the cruel indifference of regimes that maliciously and regularly trample on the most basic human rights.

Liu Xiaobo was an eloquent advocate for democracy and human rights in China. He received the highest recognition the world can bestow when he was awarded the Nobel Prize in 2010 - the first Chinese citizen to be so honored. I was privileged to be there in Oslo for the ceremony when he received the Prize but sadly, Liu was languishing in a Chinese jail and the ceremony took place around his empty chair. Even his wife, Liu Xia was forbidden to travel to Norway to receive the prize for her husband and she has lived in complete isolation under house arrest for the past 7 years. 

There is no celebration at the release of this brave human rights hero. Only condemnation for a regime that despite its wealth, power, and size, shows itself to be a moral midget when it comes to honoring the fundamental rights of its citizens. We pray that Liu Xiaobo and his wife will be comforted in the knowledge that his courageous example is an inspiration to people around the world who are fighting for a more just and decent world. Our prayers are with him and the Chinese people on whose behalf he has made such a great sacrifice."

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Solidarity Sabbath - Spotlight on China

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Advance the Freedom of Religion, Conscience, and Belief

Religious and spiritual believers in today’s China are being persecuted in ways not seen since Mao's Cultural Revolution 40 years ago. On the weekend of May 20-22, 2016, religious and spiritual communities around the world will join together in the 2016 Solidarity Sabbath to highlight the strength and bravery of Chinese citizens who courageously live out their faith despite threats of harassment, imprisonment, and even torture by the ruling Communist Party.

Freedom of religion, conscience, and belief is a vital human rights issue for all global citizens, and you have a chance to help highlight the plight of the millions of Chinese denied this basic entitlement. Whether it is encouraging your faith community’s leadership to participate in the Solidarity Sabbath or petitioning your government to take part, there are so many ways to make a difference.

Learn more at SolidaritySabbath.org

Desperate China crushing its own people: USA Today. By: Chen Guangcheng & Katrina Lantos Swett

"Since July 10, Chinese authorities have been detaining human rights lawyers and activists in unprecedented numbers. An estimated 250 have been taken into custody. Police and thugs are grabbing people from their homes and offices, and even from restaurants, without warning or rationale. They are being interrogated, threatened and accused of fabricated crimes. Many are being held without access to family, friends, legal representation, or any other semblance of due process under the law."

Continue reading:

http://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2015/09/24/china-xi-jinping-visit-obama-human-rights-lawyers-column/72671716/

Three Organizations Salute Chinese Human Rights Activist

Lantos Foundation, Catholic University, and Witherspoon Institute Applaud New Memoir by Chen Guangcheng

Leaders at the Lantos Foundation for Human Rights and Justice, The Catholic University of America, and the Witherspoon Institute offered their congratulations today to Chinese human rights activist Chen Guangcheng on the publication of his new memoir, The Barefoot Lawyer, released earlier this month by Henry Holt. The official launch of his book in Washington is scheduled for March 19 at the National Press Club

Chen has been affiliated with all three institutions since fall 2013.

The Barefoot Lawyer relates the events of Chen’s life, from his childhood to his struggles against the Chinese government. Blind since infancy, Chen became a self-trained “barefoot lawyer” who advocates for disabled persons and the interests of poor villagers in rural China, and against the brutal tactics used to enforce the state’s one-child policy, which include forced abortions and sterilizations.

As a result of his efforts, Chen was imprisoned for four years and illegally subjected to house arrest, before he eventually escaped on foot to the American embassy in Beijing. After his story made international news, Chen found asylum in the United States.

“Chen Guangcheng’s story is one of immense personal courage and conviction as well as a chilling reminder of the outrageous abuse and persecution endured by those who dare to advocate for fundamental human rights and justice in China,” said Katrina Lantos Swett, president of the Lantos Foundation for Human Rights and Justice. “Mr. Chen’s book will open the eyes of readers to some disturbing and inconvenient truths about China’s treatment of its brave reformers. This ‘blind and barefoot’ hero sees clearly and walks unafraid,” added Lantos Swett.

“This important book makes clear not only Chen's personal bravery against oppression, but it also reveals the systemic failure of human rights progress in China. Powerful and eye-opening book!” said Stephen Schneck, director of The Catholic University of America’s Institute for Policy Research & Catholic Studies.

“The Barefoot Lawyer is must reading for all who are concerned for the future of human rights and the rule of law, in China and everywhere else. It is a story that can make us all braver people,” said Matthew Franck, director of the Center on Religion and the Constitution, the Witherspoon Institute.

Since the fall of 2013, Chen Guangcheng has been a visiting fellow of Catholic University’s Institute for Policy Research & Catholic Studies, a distinguished senior fellow in human rights of the Witherspoon Institute and a senior distinguished advisor to the Lantos Foundation for Human Rights and Justice.  He has continued his activism on behalf of religious freedom, self-government for the people of Hong Kong, and the basic rights of the Chinese people. 

An author discussion and book signing for The Barefoot Lawyer is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Thursday, March 19 at the National Press Club (NPC). Lantos Swett, Schneck, and Franck are scheduled to attend the event. For more information about the NPC event, visit press.org/events/guangcheng. For more information about Chen’s affiliation with Catholic University, contact Mary McCarthy Hines in the Office of Public Affairs at cua-public-affairs@cua.edu or 202-319-5600.

Statement from Chen Guangcheng on the Death of Cao Shunli

Statement from Lantos Foundation Senior Advisor on internet freedom and human rights for people with disabilities, Chen Guangcheng:

"I am writing on behalf of Chen Guangcheng, who wishes to make known the death of human rights activist and lawyer Cao Shunli. She died while in government custody, after taking part in peaceful protests in Beijing, related to the drafting of the Human Rights Report in which the government prepares and delivers a report to the UN on its human rights situation. UN requirements dictate that the process be open to the public for comment and participation, but in China the work went on behind closed doors.

Cao Shunli was detained in September of 2013 when she was preparing to board a flight to Switzerland to take part "in human rights training on UN mechanisms," as Front Line Defenders reports. Only much later did her family learn about her whereabouts, at which point many human rights defenders and lawyers urged her to hire a lawyer and sign the proper paperwork. Unfortunately, she and her family were told by the security police that she shouldn't hire a lawyer, that they were just holding her until after the UN human rights conference regarding China's participation in the UNHRC last October was over. Soon after the conference, however, her family was given an official notice of arrest, at which point she was placed in a detention center.

For some time there had been news of her illness in custody, but her family's pleas to allow her to receive proper medical attention were ignored.

Then, around February 20th 2014, she was suddenly taken to hospital, but as a last and desperate measure. At that point, she was put on a ventilator in the ICU, where no one beside hospital staff was allowed to enter. Many supporters came to the hospital to protest outside, but were taken into custody.

As of today, Chen Guangcheng reports that her family and her lawyer was notified just this morning of her serious condition, but by the time they got to the hospital they found she had already died. They reported her body was covered with bruises, leading them to believe that she had been the victim of torture before her death. They were prevented from changing her clothes, as is Chinese custom, by guards in and outside her room. The family suspects that the authorities were worried that they would see yet more evidence of torture on her body. Later, her body was taken away, and no one is sure of the whereabouts.

This tragedy at the hands of the Chinese authorities is emblematic of the cruel and arbitrary measures that are used against innocent, law-abiding citizens in China. In fighting to bring clarity and transparency to the Chinese human rights situation through the UN, Cao Shunli was working on behalf of all people. The community of nations on whose behalf she was working should take pause to remember her, and should stand together to bring her case to justice. Those who murder with impunity should be held accountable."