Li Qiaochu

Cases
Case status
Unresolved
Location of case in SG report
2021-026-001
Relevant SG report
Year of the report
2021
Country Geolocation

Latitude: 35.86166

Longitude: 104.195397

Country Geolocation (linked Cases)
China
From Region
Type of record
Named individual
Gender
Female
Was the victim a foreign national?
No
Was the victim a minor?
No
Individual's/organization's activity

a human rights defender against gender-based violence and for labour rights, was detained on 6 February 2021 allegedly as a reprisal for meeting online with two experts from the UN Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances in September 2020. Ms. Li Qiaochu worked to publicize details of alleged torture inflicted on her partner, the detained rights activist Mr. Xu Zhiyong, and his colleague, lawyer Mr. Ding Jiaxi (see also CHN 4/202121).

Type of rights defended
  • Economic/social rights
  • Women’s rights
Was the victim a civil servant or member of the security forces or of the judiciary?
No
Reported trigger of reprisal

Ms. Li Qiaochu, a human rights defender against gender-based violence and for labour rights, was detained on 6 February 2021 allegedly as a reprisal for meeting online with two experts from the UN Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances in September 2020. Ms. Li Qiaochu worked to publicize details of alleged torture inflicted on her partner, the detained rights activist Mr. Xu Zhiyong, and his colleague, lawyer Mr. Ding Jiaxi (see also CHN 4/202121). On 24 September 2020, Ms. Luo Shengchun, the wife of Mr. Ding Jiaxi, tweeted that she, Ms. Li Qiaochu, and a family member of one of the three detained staffers at the NGO Changsha Funeng in Changsha, Hunan province, had met with the two UN experts. Ms. Li Qiaochu is reportedly being held at a psychiatric hospital in Linyi, Shandong province, following detention at Linyi Municipal Detention Center, and is suffering from unaddressed health conditions and has no access to a lawyer. The residential complex where her parents live is reportedly under surveillance by plainclothes officers.

Engagement with UN body
  • UN Special Procedures: thematic
Dates of engagement
September 2020
Type of attempted engagement
  • Submission of information to UN
Dates of mentioned reprisals
6 February 2021
Location of mentioned reprisals
psychiatric hospital in Linyi, Shandong province, following detention at Linyi Municipal Detention Center
Reprisal information

Ms. Li Qiaochu, a human rights defender against gender-based violence and for labour rights, was detained on 6 February 2021 allegedly as a reprisal for meeting online with two experts from the UN Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances in September 2020. Ms. Li Qiaochu worked to publicize details of alleged torture inflicted on her partner, the detained rights activist Mr. Xu Zhiyong, and his colleague, lawyer Mr. Ding Jiaxi (see also CHN 4/202121). On 24 September 2020, Ms. Luo Shengchun, the wife of Mr. Ding Jiaxi, tweeted that she, Ms. Li Qiaochu, and a family member of one of the three detained staffers at the NGO Changsha Funeng in Changsha, Hunan province, had met with the two UN experts. Ms. Li Qiaochu is reportedly being held at a psychiatric hospital in Linyi, Shandong province, following detention at Linyi Municipal Detention Center, and is suffering from unaddressed health conditions and has no access to a lawyer. The residential complex where her parents live is reportedly under surveillance by plainclothes officers.

Types of reprisals suffered
  • Charge/Investigation/Prosecution: Charge/Investigation/Prosecution - General
  • Detention/Imprisonment: Detention/Imprisonment - General
  • Family/friends/acquaintances targeted
Alleged/likely perpetrators
State actors
Was the reprisal based on new legislation?
No
Does the report make general comment about country’s environment for engagement with UN?
Yes
Government response dates
20 August 2021
Government response content

Concerning Ms. Li Qiaochu, female, age 30, from Beijing, in February 2021, she was legally examined by a public security organ for an alleged criminal offence. At present, the case is under further investigation.

Was the case raised by a State at the UN?
Yes
Which State raised the case at the UN and when?

In September 2023, Germany raised the case at the 54th session of the Human Rights Council during the Interactive Dialogue with the Assistant Secretary-General on the report on reprisals for cooperation with the UN.

In March 2024, BENELUX raised the case at the 55th session of the Human Rights Council during the General Debate under item 5: 'We strongly condemn all acts of intimidation or reprisal against individuals seeking to engage with the UN. We will continue to raise the names of those who have been silenced: Li Qiaochu , a woman human rights defender and researcher advocating for labour-, migrants- and women’s rights, arbitrarily detained in China. She must be released immediately and get prompt access to adequate medical care.'

In September 2024, BENELUX raised the case at the 57th session of the Human Rights Council during the Interactive Dialogue with the Assistant Secretary-General on the report on reprisals for cooperation with the UN: 'We welcome the report and condemn all acts of reprisals against human rights defenders, especially for engaging with the UN. We want to highlight three cases mentioned in the ASG report: 1. Li Qiagchu, a woman human rights defender, has completed her arbitrary detention in China. Continued restrictions to her freedoms of movement and expression must stop.'

In October 2024, BENELUX raised once again the case at the Third Committee session during the ID with the Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights, Ilze Brands Kehris.

Is the country cited for a "pattern of reprisal" in the context of this case?
No
Is a pattern of reprisals mentioned otherwise in the context of this case?
No
Does the report cite "self-censorship" as an issue in the context of this case?
No
How many times has the case been followed up in subsequent SG reports?
3
In which SG report was this case followed up on? 0
2022
Follow up information provided in SG report 0
  1. The case of a human rights defender against gender-based violence and for labour rights, Ms. Li Qiaochu, was included in the 2021 report of the Secretary-General on allegations that her detention was a reprisal for meeting online with two experts from the Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances in September 2020. Ms. Li Qiaochu worked to publicize details of alleged torture inflicted on her partner, the detained rights activist Mr. Xu Zhiyong, and his colleague, lawyer Mr. Ding Jiaxi (see also CHN 4/2021 ). On 24 September 2020, Ms. Luo Shengchun, the wife of Mr. Ding Jiaxi, had tweeted about the meeting held with the two UN experts, including Ms. Li Qiaochu.
  2. According to information received by OHCHR, on 28 February 2022, Ms. Li Qiaochu was indicted after being held in custody for over a year at the Linyi Municipal Public Security Bureau for “inciting subversion of state authority” acting on the instruction of her partner Mr. Xu Zhiyong to publish his articles with the intention of “overthrowing the social system.” Reportedly, Ms. Li Qiaochu was refused access to a lawyer until 27 August 2021, nearly seven months into her detention. All four prior applications for visits requested by her lawyer had allegedly been rejected on grounds that a visit would reveal state secrets and compromise the criminal investigation. Family requests to release her on bail for medical reasons have reportedly been rejected.
  3. On 3 February 2022, special procedure mandate holders followed up on the case of Ms. Li Quiaochu addressing allegations of lack of due process in the judicial proceedings against her, allegations regarding her treatment in detention and the alleged significant deterioration of her health while in detention (CHN 2/2022).
Followup Trends 0
Improvement
Date of follow up 0
3 February 2022
Did the government respond? 0
Yes
Was this case followed up by a UN body? 0
  • UN Special Procedures: Thematic
In which SG report was this case followed up on? 1
2023
Follow up information provided in SG report 1
  1. The case of a human rights defender against gender-based violence and for labour rights, Ms. Li Qiaochu, was included in the 2021 and 2022 report of the Secretary-General on allegations that her detention was a reprisal for meeting online with two experts from the Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances in September 2020. 43 On 28 February 2022, Ms. Li Qiaochu was indicted for “inciting subversion of state authority.” According to information received by OHCHR, Ms. Li Qiaochu met her lawyer for the first time on 17 March 2022. She has been reportedly held at the Linyi Detention center in Shandong province for over two years awaiting to stand trial. Reportedly, she has been held in a crowded cell with 15 other people. Reportedly, she continued to experience side effects from improper drug medication and her repeated applications for family visits have been rejected.
  2. Regarding the situation of Mr. Shen Youlian and Ms. Li Qiaochu, the Government reiterated its reply to last year’s report (A/HRC/51/47, Annex II, para. 51) recalling that the Chinese judicial authorities have not implemented any coercive measures against Mr. ShenYoulian. With regard to Ms. Li Qiaochu, indicted for the crime of inciting the subversion of State power, it noted that the case was currently pending with the Intermediate People’s Court of Linyi city.
Followup Trends 1
Significant positive and negative developments
Did the government respond? 1
Yes
In which SG report was this case followed up on? 2
2024
Follow up information provided in SG report 2

  1. The case of a human rights defender against gender-based violence and for labour rights, Ms. Li Qiaochu, was included in the 2021, 2022 and 2023 report of the Secretary-General51 on allegations that her detention was a reprisal for meeting online with two experts from the Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances in September 2020. 52 On 28 February 2022, Ms. Li Qiaochu was indicted for “inciting subversion of state authority.” According to information received by OHCHR, Ms. Li Qiaochu was tried on 19 December 2023, for this crime by a court in Linyi, Shandong Province. Reportedly her two lawyers were denied access to the courtroom. On 5 February 2024, the court announced Ms. Li’s sentence of three years and eight months in prison. Due to time already served, her sentence is reportedly set to end on 2 August 2024.

  2. Regarding the situation of Ms. Li Qiaochu, the Government noted that, on 5 February 2024, the Linyi Municipal Intermediate People’s Court had sentenced her to three years and eight months’ imprisonment for inciting subversion of State power. It noted further that Ms. Li Qiaochu had appealed and that the case was currently undergoing second-instance trial at the Shandong Provincial Higher People’s Court.

Followup Trends 2
Deterioration/further reprisals
Did the government respond? 2
Yes