A/HRC/57/60
to information received by OHCHR since his release from prison, he and his wife were
subsequently placed under close surveillance and, on 14 April 2023, they were both arrested
on suspicion of “picking quarrels and provoking trouble.” According to information received
by OHCHR, Ms. Xu Yan and her husband Mr. Yu Wensheng remain in pre-trial detention
initially in Beijing Shijingshan Detention Centre and, since January 2024, in Suzhou City
No. 1 Detention Centre. Reportedly Mr. Xu Yan has lost 14 kilograms in body weight since
his arrest, his health has deteriorated while in detention, and he urgently needs to undergo a
surgical intervention. Ms. Xu Yan has allegedly been threatened with the arrest of her son.
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.
The case of Ms. Chen Jianfang, a human rights defender, has been included in the
reports of the Secretary-General since 2019, and prior to that also in the 2014 report, 61 on
allegations of intimidation and reprisal for her campaign for civil society participation in the
UPR, including a tribute to Ms. Cao Shunli 62 on the fifth anniversary of her death
(CHN 11/2013).63 On 19 August 2019, special procedures mandate holders raised concerns
about Ms. Chen Jianfang’s alleged arbitrary detention and enforced disappearance
(CHN 16/2019).64 Reportedly, in August 2022, Shanghai No. 1 People’s Court sentenced
Ms. Chen Jianfang to four years and six months in prison for “inciting subversion of state
power,” followed by four years of deprivation of political rights. According to information
received by OHCHR, she was released on 21 October 2023 after having served the full term
of her sentence of four and a half years. Reportedly, since her release, she has been in her
home under close police monitoring and surveillance and her movements are restricted. In
March 2024, Ms. Chen Jianfang was allegedly brought into a police station for interrogation,
and, the same month, her lawyer was interrogated at a police station when trying to visit her
in her home.
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 and
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
46
A/HRC/27/38, paras. 17–19, A/HRC/30/29, Annex I, para. 1 and A/HRC/33/19, para. 39,
A/HRC/39/41, Annex I, para.10–11.
https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2024/03/china-un-experts-renew-calls-accountability-caoshunlisdeath#:~:text=%E2%80%9CWe%20again%20urge%20Chinese%20authorities,life%2C%E2%80%9
D%20the%20experts%20said.
A/HRC/27/38, para. 17, A/HRC/42/30, Annex II, para. 18; A/HRC/45/36, Annex II, para. 19–20,
A/HRC/48/28, para. 59, Annex II, para. 20, A/HRC/51/47, Annex II, para. 41; A/HRC/51/47,
Annex II, para. 41; A/HRC/54/61, Annex II, para. 33.
A/HRC/27/38, paras. 17–19, A/HRC/45/36, paras. 19, 21 and 34.
See government reply at:
https://spcommreports.ohchr.org/TMResultsBase/DownLoadFile?gId=32042.
See government reply at:
https://spcommreports.ohchr.org/TMResultsBase/DownLoadFile?gId=34911.
A/HRC/39/41, Annex I, para. 10–12; A/HRC/42/30, Annex II, para. 19; A/HRC/45/36, Annex II,
para. 21, A/HRC/48/28, para. 59, Annex II, para. 21; A/HRC/51/47, Annex II, para. 42;
A/HRC/54/61, Annex II, para. 34.
https://spcommreports.ohchr.org/TMResultsBase/DownLoadFile?gId=32826.
GE.24-14259