Chen Guangcheng
China The blind lawyer Chen Guangcheng spend 4 years in prison for defending women who were forced to have abortions and sterilisations. Since his release in 2010, he is under house arrest.
Chen Guangcheng is a blind self-made lawyer and a human rights activist. In 2005 he helped villagers to start legal proceedings against the local authorities of Linyi City who, as part of the one-child policy, had forced thousands of women to have abortions and sterilisations, in violation of national Chinese law.
Guangcheng was arrested and sentenced four years to jail in August 2006. In the Linyi City Prison he was beaten by fellow inmates, at the instructions of the prison guards. Despite his injuries, he was denied medical treatment. In protest, he then started a hunger strike.
Guangcheng was released as early September 2010, after serving a four-year prison term. Since his release Guangcheng has been kept under house arrest and his house is being watched. After Guangcheng had published a video in which he and his wife told from their home about their living conditions (see the L4L YouTube channel), they were severely beaten.
Three leading human rights activists in China, Jiang Tianyong, Tang Jitian and Teng Biao, who had met to discuss the situation of Guangcheng, were arrested on 16 February 2011, three days after this meeting.
Latest news
China L4L and Amnesty send letter to Minister for Guangcheng
11 May 12 On 7 May 2012, Lawyers for Lawyers and Amnesty International sent a letter to Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs Rosenthal, in which they ask attention for the situation of Chen Guangcheng. The organisations are concerned about the value of the promises made to Guangcheng by the Chinese authorities, namely that they will guarantee his safety ...
China Chen Guangcheng wants to go to US
04 May 12 In a phone conversation with the US Congress on 3 May 2012, Chen Guangcheng has indicated that he wants to travel to the US because he fears for the safety of his family if he stays in China. One day later, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Beijing announced that Chen Guangcheng is free to apply to study ...
China Cheng Guangcheng still under house arrest
13 Feb 12 Chen Guangcheng is a blind self-made lawyer and a human rights activist. In 2005 he helped villagers to start legal proceedings against the local authorities of Linyi City who, as part of the one-child policy, had forced thousands of women to have abortions and sterilisations, in violation of national Chinese law. After this case, Guangcheng ...
China Chen Guangcheng released from prison after four years
27 Sep 10 Blind lawyer Chen Guangcheng was released early September 2010, after serving a four year prison sentence. However, Amnesty International mentioned that he will remain to be watched closely outside prison. He was convicted in August 2006, because he had helped villagers to initiate a case against the local authorities of Linyi City. Thousands of women ...
News China
China L4L and Amnesty send letter to Minister for Guangcheng
11 May 12 On 7 May 2012, Lawyers for Lawyers and Amnesty International sent a letter to Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs Rosenthal, in which they ask attention for the situation of Chen Guangcheng. The organisations are concerned about the value of the promises made to Guangcheng by the Chinese authorities, namely that they will guarantee his safety ...
China Chen Guangcheng wants to go to US
04 May 12 In a phone conversation with the US Congress on 3 May 2012, Chen Guangcheng has indicated that he wants to travel to the US because he fears for the safety of his family if he stays in China. One day later, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Beijing announced that Chen Guangcheng is free to apply to study ...
China Cheng Guangcheng still under house arrest
13 Feb 12 Chen Guangcheng is a blind self-made lawyer and a human rights activist. In 2005 he helped villagers to start legal proceedings against the local authorities of Linyi City who, as part of the one-child policy, had forced thousands of women to have abortions and sterilisations, in violation of national Chinese law. After this case, Guangcheng ...
China Dutch ‘Human Rights Tulip’ 2011 awarded to Ni Yulan
02 Jan 12 The Dutch ‘Human rights Tulip’ 2011 was awarded by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign affairs to the Chinese lawyer Ni Yulan. The ‘Human Rights Tulip’ is the human rights award of the Dutch Government. The Government awards this price to a person that showed exceptional courage in protecting and promote human rights in his or ...
China Amnesty publishes report on legal profession in China
01 Jul 11 In an Amnesty International report published on 30 June 2011, the increased pressure on and control of the legal profession by the authorities in China is detailed. According to the report, “the Chinese government has unleashed an uncompromising series of measures intended to rein in the legal profession and suppress lawyers pursuing human rights cases.” ...
