The EU’s failure to speak out on Beijing’s rights violations is a body blow to independent activists across China and a betrayal of the EU’s proclaimed human rights commitments

The EU must show its support for all of those human rights defenders, lawyers and others who peacefully exercise their rights in China

24/05/2017 – Our organisations have documented and advocated solution to human rights violations in China for decades. We write ahead of the June 2, 2017 European Union (EU)-China Summit in Brussels to urge you to use that occasion to lead the EU and its member states in demonstrating unified and unambiguous commitment to promoting human rights in China.

06/07/2016 – Ahead of the 18th EU-China Summit in Beijing on 12 and 13 July 2016, the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), the International Campaign for Tibet (ICT), Human Rights in China (HRIC) and Amnesty International (AI) urge President Tusk to ensure that human rights remain at the centre of EU-China relations.

27/06/2016 – On 7 June 2016, the European Commission published a Communication, calling for the establishment of migration “compacts” between the EU and a range of countries in Africa, Asia and the Middle East. The document is a striking example of precisely what has precipitated the worst refugee crisis since the Second World War.

A member of the Slovenian army observes migrants walking towards the Austrian border near the village of Sentilj, Slovenia, October 24, 2015. © Leonhard Foeger/REUTERS

A diamond mine in the Central African Republic. ©Amnesty International

The EU-China Summit offers a crucial opportunity to put human rights at the top of discussions, and move forwards with clear action.

29/06/2015 – On the day of the EU-China Summit, Amnesty International has joined forces with the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), Human Rights Watch and the International Campaign for Tibet to call on the EU and China to ensure human rights lead the Summit discussions.

A Congolese artisan mine worker shows a small peice of gold found after water processing, in Chudja, Democratric Republic of the Congo (DRC). The UN reveals that a lot of gold is still financing armed groups in DRC. Credit: EPA