When China won the bid for the Olympic Games, the Chinese authorities made a commitment that the Olympics would be an opportunity to develop human rights. But, as the Olympic torch approaches China for its momentous entry into the Olympic stadium, the stage is overshadowed by grave human rights concerns.

While some reforms have been made on the death penalty, China remains the world’s top executioner. Human rights activists continue to be detained and harassed. Internet users are censored. Individuals are subjected to detention without trial called “Re-education Through Labour”, and “Enforced Drug Rehabilitation”. Reform of these two provisions has long been promised but now they have been extended to “clean up” Beijing ahead of the Games.

Despite the temporary regulations which were passed earlier this year to grant foreign journalists greater freedom to travel and report from within China, in practice foreign journalists are not allowed to report freely. The most recent incident saw foreign and Chinese journalists restricted from reporting on the recent violence in Tibet and surrounding provinces.

An Olympic Games characterized by serious human rights violations would be an affront to the core principles of the Olympic Charter. China has promised to make human rights improvements. China must live up to the challenge it has set itself to aspire to the ideals of the Olympics.
The founders of the Olympic Charter envisioned the Olympics Games as being centred firmly on the preservation of human dignity and respect for ethical principles. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights promotes dignity for every person. China, as host of the Beijing Olympics, should honour these principles.

This is a time to be proud of the Olympic Games, but if that pride is tarnished with human rights violations, it is bad for China, it is bad for the Olympic Games and it is bad for the international community.

“The goal of Olympism is to place sport at the service of the harmonious development of man, with a view to promoting a peaceful society concerned with the preservation of human dignity.”

Prominent Personalities and Athletes Speaking Out For Human Rights

 

Take Action Now!

Do your part to ensure that human rights for all become a reality and not some far away dream. Here is a list of different ways that you can get active!

Online

Take action online by signing the letter to Helen Clark and the Chinese Government demanding that human rights are not ignored in Free Trade Agreement between the two countries. www.notmadeinchina.org.nz

Write a letter of appeal

• Write a letter based on the Urgent Actions provided by Amnesty International appealing for the release of Chinese and Tibetan activists and peaceful protesters that Amnesty knows to be imprisoned. (download these ready-written letters)
• Write to your local paper about your concerns for the basic human rights of Chinese activists and Tibetans who are being cracked-down on in the wake of the Olympic Games.
• Write a letter or visit your local MPs urging that they call on the NZ government to continue to raise human rights concerns at every opportunity.
• If your centre has a sister city link with China please raise human rights concerns with your mayor and councillors and ask that they raise those concerns at every engagement with their Chinese counterparts.
• Ring up talk back and express your concerns about human rights in China.

Attend vigils or protests arranged by Amnesty activists

A list of Amnesty events can be found on the AINZ events page

Getting Active

If you’re a member of Amnesty International contact us to find out about how you can become more involved. If you aren’t a member, consider joining and taking further human rights action with Amnesty.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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