The Status of Human Rights in China: The U.N. Universal Periodic Review (UPR)

Hearing
Date:
Location:
B-318 Rayburn House Office Building

Hearing Notice

Please join the Commission at a hearing on the upcoming Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of China’s human rights record at the United Nations.

Established in 2006 through U.N. resolution 60/251 PDF which created the Human Rights Council, the UPR is a unique process which involves a review of the human rights records of all 192 UN Member States once every four years. The UPR is a State-driven process and aims to improve the human rights situation in all countries and address human rights violations wherever they occur.

For years, the People’s Republic of China has had a continuously worsening record of human rights violations, which was only thinly covered-up as the eyes of the international community were focused on Beijing during the 2008 Summer Olympics. Practically all areas of human rights are impacted by severe crackdowns, arbitrary arrests and detentions, and draconian punishments and the use of torture. These areas include significant violations of the right to cultural autonomy and self-determination in Tibet and Xinjiang, of the right to freedom of speech for journalists and civil activists such as the Charter 08 movement, of the right to religious freedom, of the right to a fair trial and adequate legal representation, of labor rights, of freedom from torture, as well as of the protection against forced migration.

If you have any questions, please contact 202-225-3599.

Hosted by:

James P. McGovern
Member of Congress
Co-Chair, TLHRC
Frank R. Wolf
Member of Congress
Co-Chair, TLHRC
Witnesses

Witnesses

Panel I

  • Bhuchung Tsering, Vice President for Special Programs, International Campaign for Tibet
    Written testimony
  • Rebiya Kadeer, Human Rights Activist, Uygher American Association

Panel II

  • Felice Gaer, Director, Jacob Blaustein Institute for the Advancement of Human Rights
  • T. Kumar, Advocacy Director, Asia & Pacific, Amnesty International USA
    Written testimony
  • Harry Wu, Executive Director, The Laogai Research Foundation
  • Lucie Morillon, Director Washington Office, Reporters without Borders
Meeting Documents

Transcript

Transcript

Contact The Commission

Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission
House Committee on Foreign Affairs
4150 O'Neill House Office Building
200 C Street SW
Washington, D.C. 20515
United States of America

Phone: +1 (202) 225-3599
TLHRC@mail.house.gov

Accessibility

The Commission seeks to make its events, meetings and hearings accessible to persons with disabilities.

If you are in need of special accommodations, please call (202) 225-3599 at least four business days in advance.

Questions with regard to special accommodations in general (including availability of Commission materials in alternative formats and assistive listening devices, sign language interpretation, etc.) may be directed to the Commission.

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