t) All persons who have
been sentenced for the
peaceful exercise of freedom
of speech, assembly,
association and religion, on
9
Steps taken in previous years
Situation in during visit in 2005 (See A/HRC/4/33/Add.2, A/HRC/7/3/Add.2,
(See E/CN.4/2006/6/Add.6)
A/HRC/10/44/Add.5 and A/HRC/16/52/Add.2)
- Reportedly, there has also been significant use of
the charge of ―inciting subversion of state power‖
against human rights defenders involved in peaceful
advocacy and active use of legal avenues for redress
of violations including torture and ill treatment. 9
Despite the revision of the CL
in 1997, political dissidents
sentenced before 1997
continued to serve long prison
sentences for ―hooliganism‖
Information received in the
reporting period
Non-governmental sources 2009: It is reported that
the Government has taken no steps towards the
abolition of political crimes. It is alleged that many
people are still detained and sentenced for crimes
such as ―endangering state security‖ (ESS). It is
reported that the specific targeting of human rights
lawyers has increased (see supra, recommendation j).
In addition, political prisoners face discrimination in
the sentence reduction and parole process. While a
1997 notice by the SPC prescribes to handle their
cases ―strictly‖, notices issued by municipal and
provincial high courts have shown to prohibit parole
for ESS prisoners. According to an analysis of
Government information released in its human rights
dialogues, the rate of sentence reduction for ESS
prisoners is roughly 50% lower than for other
prisoners.
Non-governmental sources: Reportedly, no steps
have been taken to release prisoners sentenced for the
non-violent exercise of their rights.
17/033/2009,17 July 2009, available online at: http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/ASA17/033/2009/en); Uighur website editor at risk of
torture (Index: ASA 17/056/2009, 30 September 2009, available online at: http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/ASA17/056/2009/en).
For further reference regarding human rights defenders detained and charged on charges of China must ensure adequate care for activist: Hu Jia
(Index: ASA 17/013/2010, 12 April 2010, available online at: http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/ASA17/013/2010/en); Chinese democracy
activist detained: Liu Xianbin (Index: ASA 17/028/2010, 5 July 2010, available online at:
http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/ASA17/028/2010/en); Fear of Torture and Other Ill-Treatment: Tan Zuoren (m) (Index: ASA
17/014/2009, 2 April 2009, available online at: http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/ASA17/014/2009/en).
A/HRC/19/61/Add.3
22
Recommendation
(E/CN.4/2006/6/Add.6)
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