UN Special Rapporteur: China must uphold the rights of imprisoned human rights defenders
China must uphold the rights of imprisoned human rights defenders, including by ensuring that they are not subjected to torture or ill-treatment, a UN expert said today.
“I have been disturbed by consistent allegations I have received about the treatment of imprisoned human rights defenders in China – including in relation to torture, denial of access to adequate medical care and visitation rights,” said Mary Lawlor, the Special Rapporteur on human rights defenders.
The expert called on the Government of China to ensure these detainees are granted family and counsel visits and adequate medical attention, and held in officially recognised places of detention, with information on their fate and whereabouts being provided to any person with a legitimate interest.