A/HRC/42/30 5. China 17. 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 2014116 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). 18. The case of Ms. Chen Jianfang, a human rights activist, was included in the 2014 report of the Secretary-General (A/HRC/27/38, paras. 17–19). On 20 March 2019, Shanghai police reportedly took Ms. Chen Jianfang from her home and she has allegedly been subject to enforced disappearance since then. Days before she was taken away, she had written a tribute to Ms. Cao Shunli on the fifth anniversary of her death (see above), published online on 14 March 2019. Previously, in 2014, she was reportedly interrogated, warned about attempting to attend a human rights training program, and barred from traveling for life (CHN 11/2013).118 19. 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. 20. The case of Mr. Qin Yongmin, democracy activist and dissident, and his wife, Ms. Zhao Suli, was included in the 2018 report of the Secretary-General (A/HRC/39/41, Annex I, paras. 13–14). In October 2018, Mr. Qin was reportedly transferred to Guanghua Prison in Qianjiang City, Hubei Province to serve a 13-year prison sentence on “subversion of state power” charges brought in July 2018. The criminal indictment reportedly accuses Mr. Qin of promotion of engagement with United Nations human rights mechanisms. On 31 July 2018, the Government stated that in March of 2015 he was “lawfully subjected to 114 115 116 117 118 48 OHCHR, “China: UN experts renew calls for probe into death of Cao Shunli,” (14 March 2019). OHCHR, “UN experts alarmed by reprisals against activists linked to China’s international human rights review,” (16 October 2013). OHCHR, “Deadly reprisals: UN experts deplore the events leading to the death of Chinese human rights defender Cao Shunli, and ask for full investigation,” (18 March 2014). Response from Government: https://spcommreports.ohchr.org/TMResultsBase/ DownLoadFile?gId=32624. Response from Government: https://spcommreports.ohchr.org/TMResultsBase/ DownLoadFile?gId=32042. GE.19-15332