Chinese feminists continue to resist amidst repression 30 years after Beijing Conference on Women

The statement was delivered in conjunction with the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, a landmark framework for achieving gender equality adopted at the Fourth World Conference on Women in 1995. Governments, including China, pledged to take concrete actions to advance gender equality and women’s rights. However, thirty years later, the landscape for women’s rights advocacy in China has changed drastically.  

Feminist activists and women human rights defenders (WHRDs) face increasing State repression, including censorship, surveillance, arbitrary detention, harassment, and politically motivated charges. Broader movements such as the #MeToo movement, which was inspired by global efforts to expose sexual harassment and gender-based violence, have been targeted by a government that refuses to yield space for any form of organising or an independent civil society. While enjoying support from younger generations, China’s #MeToo movement has been confronted by a still predominantly patriarchal society, and conservative courts dismissing the rare cases brought by survivors. 

The crackdown on women activists is exemplified by the ongoing persecution of Huang Xueqin and He Fangmei, both of whom remain unjustly detained. Huang Xueqin, a journalist and key #MeToo activist, was sentenced to five years in prison following a secret trial. Meanwhile, He Fangmei, a vaccine safety advocate, was sentenced to five years and six months, and her children’s whereabouts remain unknown after being taken by authorities. UN Special Procedures experts have addressed many letters to Chinese authorities raising concerns at their continuous detention. 

Faced with repression, many WHRDs have been forced to limit their activism or go into exile. Despite this, feminist activism persists both inside China and within the diaspora overseas, with activists continuing to mobilise support, document human rights violations, and advocate for the release of detained WHRDs. 

In China’s 2023 review by the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), the Committee expressed concern over reports of WHRDs facing intimidation, harassment, and gender-based violence, including by State officials. It urged China to protect WHRDs from harassment and reprisals, investigate those responsible, ensure a safe environment for WHRDs to advocate for women’s rights, and enable the meaningful participation of independent women’s rights organisations in policymaking. 

In partnership with Chinese feminist activists who cannot address the HRC out of fear of reprisals, ISHR’s statement highlights the resilience and determination of feminist activists in China as they continue their struggle despite mounting challenges. 

Watch the video statement here:

Read the full statement below: 

Italics only for written version. 

Mr. President, Your Excellencies, 

Thirty years ago, the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing marked a milestone for feminists globally, and in China. For the first time ever, Chinese lesbian activists got a tent during the NGO Forum, creating a rare, physical space of encounter, resilience, and hope.  

Yet today, Chinese feminists face harsh and intersecting forms of oppression from a patriarchal society and a repressive State – far away from its 1995 commitments –. Despite the government’s crackdown, in particular on China’s #metoo movement, feminist activists across China and in the diaspora continue to organise, raise awareness, and build solidarity across movements. 

Unable to address this Council out of fear of reprisals, this is a message from them. 

Ten years ago, Chinese authorities detained five of us from the feminist movement: Li Maizi, Wei Tingting, Wu Rongrong, Zheng Churan, and Wang Man. Later known as the ‘Feminist Five’, they planned to hand out stickers on public transportation on International Women’s Day to raise awareness about sexual harassment. At the time, we worried that this was the end of the feminist movement. But we did not give up. We continued to connect with each other.  

Today, more and more women now are acting against the injustices we face in our country. We shared our stories about sexual harassment and assault, and this became the #MeToo movement. We help each other find safety and support when faced with domestic violence. We help each other face the pressures from a government and society that wants us to give birth to more children, and discriminates us in our workplaces.   

We continue to demand the government release the Chained Woman, as well as activist He Fangmei and her children, and journalist Sophia Huang Xueqin. 

With all of these actions, the movement has only grown stronger.  

Today we celebrate feminism which makes the world better for everyone, including men living under the patriarchy. We celebrate a just society where everyone can flourish. We believe this is the society China can become, and today we celebrate all the actions we will take to make it a reality in the next ten years and the next ten years after that. 

Thank you. 

Download the statement in English and Chinese.