The HRIC Daily Brief is a daily selection of news stories and commentary related to human rights in China, drawn from Chinese- and English-language news and online media sources that we monitor daily. In addition to headlines and source links, HRIC also provides English translation of Chinese headlines.

Tuesday, January 31, 2017

Access to Justice (司法公正)

EU demands China investigate torture of lawyer and release political prisoners
The Guardian, January 28, 2017
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/jan/29/eu-demands-china-investigate-torture-of-lawyer-and-release-political-prisoners

709大抓捕有維權律師羈押時遭酷刑逼供 家屬促交代 (Lawyers detained in 709 crackdown suffered torture, families press government for answers)
Radio Television Hong Kong, January 30, 2017
http://news.rthk.hk/rthk/ch/component/k2/1310694-20170130.htm

Related:
Statement by the Spokesperson on the cases of several human rights defenders in China
European Union External Action, January 28, 2017
https://eeas.europa.eu/headquarters/headquarters-homepage/19428/statement-spokesperson-cases-several-human-rights-defenders-china_en

Mass Crackdown on Chinese Lawyers and Defenders
中国大规模镇压维权律师和活跃人士
Human Rights in China, June 10, 2015
EN: http://www.hrichina.org/en/mass-crackdown-chinese-lawyers-and-defenders
CH: http://www.hrichina.org/chs/zhong-guo-da-gui-mo-zhen-ya-wei-quan-lu-shi-he-huo-yue-ren-shi

China detains thousands with grievances as year of rooster begins
Radio Free Asia, January 30, 2017
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/detains-01302017133620.html

中国良心犯流亡海外家人的新年期盼 (Overseas family members of Chinese prisoners of conscience hope to be reunited with loved ones in New Year)
Radio Free Asia, January 30, 2017
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/renquanfazhi/ml1-01302017103106.html

China's bar association pledges enhanced reforms
Xinhua, January 29, 2017
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2017-01/29/content_28073251.htm

Access to Information (信息公开)

With Oscar buzz dead, China clips “Hooligan Sparrow” wings
Hong Kong Free Press, January 29, 2017
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2017/01/29/oscar-buzz-dead-china-clips-hooligan-sparrow-wings/

China warns officials to stay on message when chatting online
Radio Free Asia, January 27, 2017
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/message-01272017124310.html

Citizen Participation (公民参与)

UN social media posts removed in China after backlash
Voice of America, January 30, 2017
http://www.voanews.com/a/un-social-media-posts-removed-in-china-after-backlash/3698222.html

Chinese send fake Trump tweets as jokes, New Year wishes
Voice of America, January 27, 2017
http://www.voanews.com/a/china-fake-trump-tweets/3695908.html

China’s feminists go to Washington
China File, January 28, 2017
http://www.chinafile.com/media/chinas-feminists-go-washington

Hong Kong (香港)

New Year, new abduction allegations from Hong Kong
The Diplomat, January 31, 2017
http://thediplomat.com/2017/01/new-year-new-abduction-allegations-from-hong-kong/

Post-Occupy surge in young voters during Hong Kong’s 2016 Legco elections
South China Morning Post, January 31, 2017
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/2066860/post-occupy-surge-young-voters-during-hong-kongs-2016-legco

Video: The fight for gov’t access – Hong Kong Free Press featured on RTHK’s “The Pulse”
Hong Kong Free Press, January 29, 2017
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2017/01/31/video-fight-govt-access-hong-kong-free-press-featured-rthks-pulse/

Commentary (评论)

The origins of China’s new Law on Foreign NGOs
China File, January 31, 2017
http://www.chinafile.com/viewpoint/origins-of-chinas-new-law-foreign-ngos

Baby girls – and women – in China should be a thing of wonder, not pity
South China Morning Post, January 31, 2017
http://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/2066741/baby-girls-and-women-china-should-be-thing-wonder-not-pity

Hong Kong’s censored New Year’s Fair – another own-goal by the government
Hong Kong Free Press, February 1, 2017
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2017/02/01/hong-kongs-censored-new-years-fair-is-another-own-goal-by-the-government/