A coalition of seven prominent international human rights organizations has penned a letter to Members of the European Parliament (MEPs), calling for a focus on human rights abuses in China during their forthcoming interactions with Chinese counterparts. The groups expressed concerns over China’s tight control on information, suppression of dissent, surveillance of activists, and prosecution under ambiguous national security laws. Notable signatories to the letter include Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and the World Uyghur Congress.
The rights advocates emphasized the escalating restrictions faced by previously marginalized groups like feminists and the LGBTI community in China. They accused Chinese authorities of flouting international human rights obligations and attempting to redefine global standards while undermining key international institutions. The letter urged European decision-makers to move beyond mere expressions of concern and take concrete steps to address the human rights crisis in China.
Since President Xi Jinping came to power in 2012, the signatories noted a significant deterioration in human rights in China, marked by arbitrary detentions, forced labor, and transnational repression. They criticized the lack of accountability for these violations, with only a few officials facing consequences. The organizations called on MEPs to uphold the European Parliament’s commitment to human rights universality and engage with Chinese counterparts on the grave rights violations occurring in China.
