1.In my previous report,reference was made to Cao Shunli, who had been campaigning for transparency and greater participation of civil society in the universal periodic review processof Chinaand reportedly as a result was arrested, detained and denied medical treatment resulting in her death on 14 March 2014(A/HRC/27/38, paras. 17-19). In hisreport of 10 June 2015, the Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association regretted not having received a response from the Government to the joint communication sent on 4 March 2014(A/HRC/29/25/Add.3, paras.240-244). The Rapporteur reiterated his utmost concern that the death of Ms. Cao might have been a reprisal for her continued cooperation with the United Nations in the field of human rights and urged the authorities to inform him of the results of the investigations of the circumstances leading to Ms. Cao’s death, as soon as possible(ibid.). At the time of finalization of the present report, no response had been received from the Government

The case of Cao Shunli was included in my previous two reports (see A/HRC/27/38, paras. 17-19, and A/HRC/30/29, annex, para. 1). Ms. Cao had actively campaigned for transparency and greater participation of civil society in the universal periodic review process of China and was, reportedly as a result thereof, arrested, detained and denied medical treatment, resulting in her death on 14 March 2014. In a right of reply exercised during the thirtieth session of the Human Rights Council, the Chinese representative stated that Ms. Cao was “by no means a human rights defender”, but had been placed under investigation in September 2013 due to allegations of creating trouble. She had died of organ failure caused by tuberculosis, even though she had received good medical care and attempts had been made to save her. Furthermore, the case was not an issue of human rights but rather of the rule of law and the judicial sovereignty and independence of China. The organs of State would deal with any person engaged in criminal activities in accordance with the law. 8

The case of Ms. Cao Shunli was included in the 2018 (A/HRC/39/41, Annex I, para.10–11), 2016 (A/HRC/33/19, para. 39), 2015 (A/HRC/30/29, Annex, para. 1), and 2014 (A/HRC/27/38, paras. 17–19) reports of the Secretary-General. On 14 March 2019, nine special procedures mandate holders issued a statement 114 renewing their call for a comprehensive and independent investigation five years after the death of Ms. Cao Shunli, a human rights defender who died in custody on 14 March 2014 following attempted engagement with the UPR. 115 They called for an investigation in 2014 116 after Ms. Cao Shunli was arrested in September 2013 at Beijing International Airport (CHN 11/2013), when her whereabouts remained unknown for five weeks until she resurfaced in custody and was charged with “provocation.” On 24 January 2014, the Government noted that she had been detained on the criminal charge of disturbing public, social and administrative order and a warrant for Cao’s arrest was issued on the charge of the crime of provocation. 117 During her incarceration, Ms. Cao Shunli’s health seriously deteriorated, allegedly due to torture, ill-treatment, and authorities’ failure to provide her access to medical care, and she died weeks after being admitted to hospital in critical condition on 19 February 2014 (CHN 13/2013). [...] 28. On 1 July 2019, the Government responded to the allegations above. Regarding the case of Ms. Cao Shunli, the Government indicated that judicial organs handled the case in accordance with the law, and guaranteed her legal rights. She died of illness on 14 March 2014.

34. The case of lawyer Ms. Wang Yu has been included in the reports of the SecretaryGeneral since 201853 on allegations of arrest and charges of “subversion of state power,” (CHN 6/2015),54 including in connection with her role in the case of Ms. Cao Shunli, who had cooperated with the United Nations. On 26 November 2020, the Beijing Justice Bureau reportedly cancelled Ms. Wang Yu’s license to practice law. According to informationreceived by OHCHR, during the reporting period, while quarantine restrictions were still in place, her local health code reportedly turned red (indicating a COVID-19 infection) despite repeated negative COVID-19 test results, during the 20th Party Congress in October 2022. As a result of having a red health code, her movements were reportedly restricted, and she was barred from entering buildings and accessing transportation.

58. The case of Ms. Cao Shunli, a human rights defender who had been arrested following an attempt (or attempts) to engage in the second universal periodic review of China and who had died in custody in 2014, was included in the reports of the Secretary-General between 2014 and to 2016, and 2018.59 On 14 March 2024, on the occasion of the tenth anniversary of her death in custody, special procedures mandate holders condemned the continued failure of the Chinese authorities to investigate the circumstances surrounding the death of Ms. Cao Shunli and bring those responsible to justice. They urged Chinese authorities afresh to fully and fairly investigate the circumstances that led to Ms. Cao Shunli’s death and hold those responsible to account.60
59. Regarding Ms. Cao Shunli, the Government noted that the Chinese judicial authorities had handled her case in accordance with the law, that her legitimate rights had been safeguarded in accordance with the law and that she had died on 14 March 2014, due to illness.