The case of Ms. Wang Yu, a lawyer, was included in the 2019 and 2018 reports of the Secretary-General (A/HRC/42/30, para. 46 and Annex II, para. 19; A/HRC/39/41, Annex I, paras. 10–12) on allegations of arrest and charges of “subversion of state power,” (CHN 6/2015), 15 including in connection to her role in the case of Ms. Cao Shunli (see above). It was reported to OHCHR that Ms. Wang Yu continued to face surveillance and harassment from police and judicial bureau officials during the reporting period, and her passport continues to be confiscated since July 2015.

The case of Ms. Wang Yu, a Chinese lawyer, was included in the 2018 report of the Secretary-General (A/HRC/39/41, Annex I, paras. 10–12) concerning her legal representation on several sensitive cases, including her role in the case of Ms. Cao Shunli (see above). She was arrested and charged for “subversion of state power,” reportedly tortured in custody, and forced to confess to criminal behavior (CHN 6/2015). On 31 July 2018, the Government noted that Ms. Wang was “lawfully subjected to criminal detention on suspicion of troublemaking and inciting the subversion of State power, and was subsequently put under residential surveillance in accordance with the law” (A/HRC/39/41, Annex I, para. 16). On 27 March 2019, Ms. Wang was reportedly handcuffed and taken to the Maizidian Police Station on the grounds that she failed to show an ID card while attempting to enter the Embassy of the United States of America in Beijing to attend a lecture. Embassy staff reportedly attempted to prevent police from detaining her, to no avail. She was later reportedly taken to Beijing Public Security Bureau’s Chaoyang branch and held for one night for “obstructing government administration,” and then released without charge. [...] 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. Regarding the case of Ms. Chen Jianfang, the Government indicated that she is a suspected criminal and the judicial authorities are handling the case according to law. As for Ms. Wang Yu, the Government indicated that, in accordance with the law, she was summoned for investigation in March 2019 and her legal rights have been protected. To date, no criminal compulsory measures have been taken against Ms. Wang Yu.

21. The case of lawyer Ms. Wang Yu was included in the 2020, 2019 and 2018 reports of the Secretary-General 118 on allegations of arrest and charges of “subversion of state power,” (CHN 6/2015),119 including in connection to her role in the case of Ms. Cao Shunli who had cooperated with the UN. It was reported to OHCHR that, during the reporting period, Ms. Wang Yu continued to face surveillance and harassment from police (see above). On 26 November 2020, the Beijing Justice Bureau reportedly cancelled Ms. Wang Yu’s license to practice law. Ms. Wang Yu was reportedly prevented from traveling or using the Internet freely by authorities and was unreachable for a week in early March 2021, coinciding with the time when she was due to receive an award from the Government of the United States of America for her human rights work. On 19 March 2021, Ms. Wang Yu’s family and friends lost contact with her as she traveled to Shanghai, allegedly when she was detained briefly by authorities in her hotel room to prevent her from attending the trial of rights defender Ms. Chen Jianfang (as mentioned above).

42. The case of lawyer Ms. Wang Yu was included in the 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021 reports of the Secretary-General on allegations of arrest and charges of “subversion of state power,” (CHN 6/2015), including in connection to her role in the case of Ms. Cao Shunli who had cooperated with the UN. On 26 November 2020, the Beijing Justice Bureau reportedly cancelled Ms. Wang Yu’s license to practice law. According to information received by OHCHR, during the reporting period, Ms. Wang Yu continued to face surveillance and harassment by the police. Reportedly, she was unable to obtain a passport and hence could not travel overseas and was under surveillance when travelling within China. At the time of writing, Ms. Wang Yu remained disbarred, although she reportedly continued to provide legal assistance by being appointed by the Court as a personal representative, rather than as an attorney. It was reported to OHCHR that Ms. Wang Yu faced obstacles in her legal assistance work as personal representative. Reportedly, the Heping District Court officials in Shenyang rejected, Ms. Wang Yu’s request to be appointed as Ms. Li Yuhan’s personal representative in her trial of 20 October 2021. (See above).

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 information received 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.
35. Regarding the situation of Ms. Chen Jianfang, the Government noted that, on 5 August 2022, Ms. Chen Jianfang had been sentenced by the Shanghai No. 1 Intermediate People’s Court to four years’ and six months’ imprisonment, four years’ deprivation of political rights and the confiscation of RMB 30,000. It added that Ms. Chen Jianfang had filed an appeal and was currently detained in the Shanghai Municipal Detention Center. Concerning Ms. Wang Yu, the Government reiterated the information provided in its reply to last year’s report (A/HRC/51/47, Annex II, para. 54) and noted that the judiciary was not taking any coercive measures against her.

60. The case of lawyer Ms. Wang Yu has been included in the reports of the Secretary-General since 201865 on allegations of arrest and charges of “subversion of state power,” (CHN 6/2015),66 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 information received by OHCHR, during the reporting period Ms. Wang Yu was under surveillance and her movements were restricted. In March 2024, after she visited her client Mr. Chen Jianfang (see above), Ms. Wang Yu was allegedly taken to a police station andinterrogated by police for several hours. Reportedly, her attempts to obtain a passport to visit her son abroad failed, and three complaints she filed on this issue with relevant authorities remained unanswered at the time of writing.

61. Regarding the situation of Ms. Chen Jianfang the Government informed that on 14 August 2023, the Shanghai Municipal Higher People’s Court had rejected the appeal and upheld the original sentence of four years’ and six months’ imprisonment, four years’ deprivation of political rights and the confiscation of RMB 30,000. It noted further that in October 2023, Ms. Chen Jianfang had been released after serving her sentence. Concerning Ms. Wang Yu the Chinese judicial authorities had taken no coercive measures whatsoever against her.