Five Women Detained
After Planning Women's Day Events
Intro
Five women who worked at the Weizhiming Women Center office in Hangzhou, China, were taken away, or detained, after officials got word they had been planning events for International Women's Day. All of the women are members of the Women’s Rights Action Group, and they were planning to hold public events calling for an end to sexual harassment on public transportation in several cities in China on March 7.
They had made stickers printed with “Stop sexual harassment, let us stay safe” and “Go police go, arrest those who committed sexual harassment!” which they planned to distribute at the events.
Human Rights Violations
The women were taken out of their homes
Four of the women were taken in the late hours of the night without any of their family knowing. Another women, who had been taken from the airport was currently suffering from chronic liver problems and was in poor health when taken away. There is no assurance she is getting the treatment she needs.
The women are being held in an unknown location
Two lawyers tried to find the women at the police station they were believed to be held at, but when they got there the head of the station denied that the five women were there and denied to give any other information.
They are at risk of torture and other ill-treatment
Without disclosure of their location, or any information for that matter, there is no assurance that officials wouldn't ill-treat these women.
In Conclusion
Chinese authorities must:
- immediately find out where Wu Rongrong, Zheng Churan, Li Tingting, Wei Tingting and Wang Man (the five women) are located
- immediately and unconditionally release the five women if they are being detained solely for peacefully exercising their rights to freedom of expression
- ensure that they all have regular access to their lawyers and family, and are protected from torture and other ill-treatment.