In China, like everywhere else, people want to live in dignity. They want to be able not only to meet their basic needs and care for their families, but also to express themselves freely and treat each other with fairness and respect. Unfortunately, the government perceives efforts to create a more inclusive, diverse, rights-respecting and just Chinese society as a threat to its power.
Cao Shunli, a brave woman human rights defender, attempted to speak truth to power by bringing the human rights situation in China to the attention of the United Nations. Her unwavering dedication led to her arbitrary detention by the Chinese authorities and ultimately to her tragic death after spending six months in custody, on 14 March 2014, exactly ten years ago.
Cao’s story is not an isolated incident. It is emblematic of the broader crackdown on human rights defenders who dare to uphold the promise of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in China. Many like her have been unjustly imprisoned, harassed, or forcibly disappeared. Many suffer from reprisals for attempting to cooperate with the United Nations, including by coming to Geneva like Cao tried to do. Yet, despite these adversities, human rights defenders in China continue to resiliently document, denounce, and mobilise against injustice.
Today, as we mark the tenth anniversary of Cao Shunli’s death, we pledge to carry forward her legacy by amplifying the voices of Chinese, Tibetan, Uyghur, and Hong Kong human rights defenders who continue to be targeted by the Chinese government.
Cao’s powerful words, ‘But we must try!’, are a reminder for all of us, that even in the darkest of times, we must keep trying in our pursuit of justice. For only through our collective efforts can we hope to realise a world where human rights are upheld, cherished, and protected for all. This is Cao Shunli’s legacy.
Cao Shunli in 2013. ©Pablo M. DÍEZ (ABC Spanish Daily)