Transcript Human rights issues in China

HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUES IN CHINA
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The Death Penalty
Criminal Justice System
One Child policy
Intolerance of Political Dissent
Denial of Religious freedom – focus on Falun Gong
Repression of Muslin Minority in Xinjiang
Tibet
Organ harvesting
Torture and ill treatment of prisoners
Workers’ rights
The Chinese Constitution(2004)
states:
“The State
respects and
preserves
Human Rights”
Legal System /The Media
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 Legal system –
stated aim to be
fair and open
 Constitution states
that people have
freedom of speech
 Internet – free
exchange of
information
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Major media organisations are
controlled by the government
Foreign owned media have to
be licensed by the government
Favourable references to
democracy and pro-democracy
movements are effectively
banned
Media is monitored by Central
propaganda department (CPD)
CPD also controls official news
agency ‘Xinhua’
Journalists have been arrested
and some publications have
been closed down
Internet – people might find
out more than the govt. wants
them to know. It is estimated
that 30000-50000 people
monitoring the internet.
The Death Penalty
 China executes more people each year than
the rest of the world put together.
 At least a thousand executions in China in
2006 but this figure could be nearer 8000
 Applicable to 68 crimes in China including
several violent crimes, such as robbery, rape
and murder. It is also applicable to some nonviolent crimes such as economic crimes (e.g.
tax fraud and embezzlement) and drug
offences where the circumstances are ‘serious’.
Prisoners are executed by shooting, usually to
the back of the head, and increasingly lethal
injection.
Criminal Justice System
 The Chinese judicial system is widely
criticised by humanitarian groups.
 Torture is still used to obtain
confessions.
 Chinese courts do not have juries and
judges are mostly CCP members.
Religion
 Religious freedom is
guaranteed under the
constitution
 There are 5
government
recognised religions
 Falun Gong – declared
illegal in 1999, CPC
described it as a cult
 Restricted to religious
organisations that are
registered with the
government
 Falun Gong ( a recent
religious belief system)
Practitioners have
been arrested and
tortured. Allegations
that 3000 have died
whilst under arrest
Tibet
 Chinese rule over Tibet is
controversial. Human rights groups
accuse the authorities of the
systematic destruction of Tibetan
Buddhist culture and the persecution
of monks loyal to the Dalai Lama, the
exiled spiritual leader who is
campaigning for autonomy within
China.