Women’s rights in China organizes activity to support Liu Xia

Posted on 2014-03-19 by wrchina

All photos by WRIC 03-18-2014

For this year’s Women’s History Month, Women’s Rights in China (WRIC), Committee for U.S. International Broadcasting (CUSIB) and Visual Arts Guild’s New York Chapter co-organized an activity at Museum of Tolerance New York City to support Liu Xia. They hope to raise international attention and gain public support for Liu Xia through this open and free discussion, so Liu Xia can break free from China’s brutal regime and live with dignity and basic human rights.

The activity started with MC Rose Tang’s introduction of WRIC founder Zhang Jing. Zhang then explained that these three years, Liu Xia has been prohibited to see friends and visitors, use the internet or phone, and send or receive messages and has been under long-term, inhumane house arrest, seriously affecting her mental and physical health. To Liu, ‘the future is a closed window, within there is never-ending darkness and nightmares’.

Zhang also talked about the mysterious death of human rights defender Cao Shunli. ‘Under oppression from an authoritarian government, we have lost one more brave sister. Miss Cao used her life and blood to compose a sad and tragic song about human rights in China. We will never forget the huge cost in fighting for freedom and individual rights, and our sisters who sacrificed their lives for it.’

Liu Xia‘s photographic show. All people stand up to memorial silence to Cao Shunli.

Libby Liu, Ann Noonan and Zhang Jing in Museum of Tolerance NY.

Afterwards, the audience stood up for a moment of silence for Cao. Musician Daniel Carter, who has multiple talents and plays for many bands, conveyed his deep feelings with a tune on his saxophone, paying tribute to Liu Xia and mourning for Cao.

The audience stand up for a moment of silence

WRIC volunteer Carla (Left) and Rose Tang ( Right )recite three poems by Liu Xia.

Libby Liu.

Libby Liu, President of Radio Free Asia gave a speech. ‘I am deeply honored to be here to pay tribute to Liu Xia, a brave women. Liu has become a symbol for quiet resistance towards authority. We recite her poems to show that she is not alone, that the world has not forgotten her, that we stand with her.’ Libby announced that Radio Free Asia will host a new weekly Mandarin program ‘Letters from prison’ starting from April. The host will be reciting Liu’s poems in the first episode.

Ann Noonan.

Ann Noonan, Executive Director of Committee for U.S. International Broadcasting, read out a letter of appeal to First Lady Michelle Obama, urging her to mention the stories of two ordinary Chinese women to the PRC government and First lady Peng Liyuan during her visit to China on the 19th: Cao Shunli was detained at the Beijing airport in September 2013 when attempting to board a plan to Geneva for a UN human rights training workshop, and was taken to the hospital a few months later. She was declared dead on 14 March, 2014. Li Shulian filed a petition to the state to fight for her rights for many years, but received no results. She died in the Longkou City Petitions Office in Shandong with wounds all over her body. Relatives suspect that she was beaten to death. They demanded an investigation, but have not succeeded. Li’s daughter has also been detained many times when filing a petition.

Peggy Chane,

Peggy Chane, President of Visual Arts Guild New York Chapter, condemned the Chinese government for ‘murdering’ Liu Xia: ‘Ironically, China, which is one of the worst human rights violator, is a member of the UN Human Rights Council.’ Visual Arts Guild called on US Representative to the UN, Susan Rice, to take action and demand that China hand in a comprehensive investigation report on the death of Miss Cao, and arrest those who are responsible.

Emchi Kalsang Dolma.

Emchi Kalsang Dolma, President of Regional Tibetan Women’s Association NY & NJ, was also invited to give a speech. She expressed her care and concern towards Liu Xia, and called on the public to support Tibetans who are also oppressed by the PRC government and are resisting by self-immolation. A Tibetan monk was invited on stage to say a prayer to comfort the souls of all Han and Tibetans who have sacrificed their lives to fight against authority. He offered his blessings to the Chinese people.

Karin M. Burke.

Devoted Christian Karin M. Burke has participated in many events for charity, including assistance to Chinese people in exile. Worried about the human rights situation in China, she said, ‘The suffering of Liu Xia is our suffering as well. I am very honored today to stand here with everyone and support her.’

Even Reggie Littlejohn, Founder of Women’s Rights Without Frontiers, who is in California at the moment, sent her speech. The MC read it out on her behalf. Reggie expressed her strong support towards Liu Xia and demanded the PRC government to release Liu from inhumane house arrest, and give her back her freedom.

A video clip of Liu Xia prepared by WRIC was shown. 40 masterpieces from Liu’s photos exhibition, provided by Guy Surmon, was also presented on the screen. These photos are full of emotions, expressing the torment and struggle of Liu under long-term imprisonment, and are a form of quiet resistance towards autocratic power.

Volunteers of WRIC.

Jing Zhang: Hold on, Liu Xia!

Posted on 2014-03-18 by wrchina

Jing Zhang March18, 2014 in Museum of Tolerant NY

Jing Zhang is speaking.( Photos by WRIC)

March is Women’s History Month. We commemorate all the women who have made outstanding contributions to the Women’s Liberation Movement. Further more, we are concerned about women who are mentally and physically tortured under authoritarian governments. Liu Xia, a woman and a wife, has been under arbitrary house arrest for three years under order from the Chinese government, solely due to the fact that her husband is a Nobel Peace Prize recipient. Her health is deteriorating day by day. Women’s Rights in China, Committee for US International Broadcasting and Visual Arts Guild NYC, and a number of grass roots NGOs in China and the U.S., are organizing this event to raise awareness of Liu Xia’s at the Museum of Tolerance in New York, hoping to draw international attention and gain public support through discussions, so Liu Xia can break free from the Chinese Communist Regime’s political persecution and human rights violation as soon as possible, regain the basic freedom which was originally hers, and can live with dignity.

For three years, family and friends have been banned from visiting Liu Xia. She’s not allowed to use the Internet or telephone. She cannot receive or send letters, either. The long-term loneliness and inhumane imprisonment has damaged her both physically and mentally. She has cried, laughed and fought, yet Chinese communist governors never loosen their monitoring over her. Her freedom and dignity are still stepped on by the authoritarian and autocratic regime. For her, “Future is a window that has been closed; inside the window is endless darkness and nightmares.”

However, in mainland China, Liu Xia is only one of the hundreds and thousands of people who have been deprived of personal freedom and suffer from all kinds of human rights persecution. Many women who fight for their rights and have legitimate demands are being detained, abused and persecuted by authorities, such as Wu Yuqin, Fan Yanqiong, Wang Lihong, Liu Shasha, Liu Ping, Cao Shunli, Wang Yi (Cheng Jianping), Su Changlan, Ma Shengfang, Ye Haiyan so on, as well as hundreds and thousands of women who suffer from forced abortion and induced labor. All of these women are still suffering under the Chinese Communist dictatorship and a male-dominant society.

Recently we were shocked to learn about the sudden death of Cao Shunli, a human rights activist who was forcefully taken away by the police when she was boarding a plane en route to Geneva for a short-term human rights training workshop organized by the United Nations. Ms Cao was detained by Beijing police for six months. We mourn the loss of a brave sister who died under the persecution of a dictatorship. Cao Shunli wrote a sad and grand song about Chinese human rights with her life and blood.

Cao Shunli, a human rights activist.

Women’s Rights in China will always remember these sisters who have paid huge prices. Some of these women have even sacrificed their lives in their pursuit of freedom and their struggles to protect their rights.

We also urge American First Lady Michelle Obama to follow the principle that human rights are above all. Mrs. Obama is to visit China on March 19^th. We urge her to raise the serious human-rights problem in China that has arisen in recent years, especially the violation of women, children and petitioners. Mrs. Obama should urge the Chinese government to release all the prisoners who were arrested for carrying out their constitutional rights of speech, assembly and association.

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The road of China’s human rights, freedom, democracy, and women’s liberation movement is treacherous, but we firmly believe that the sunshine will arrive, and we’re fully confident to walk out of this darkness before dawn.

WRIC Held an Event in NYC “Hold on Liu Xia”

Posted on 2014-03-18 by wrchina

WRIC report / video 03-18-2014

Every March is Women’s History Month in the United States.

During this year’s Women’s History Month, the American NGO organization Women’s Rights in China co-hosted a solidarity event for Liu Xiaobo’s wife, Liu Xia, at the Museum of Tolerance in New York City on March 18 with the Committee for U.S. International Broadcasting, the Visual Artists Guild NYC.

Libby Liu, director of Radio Free Asia, Jing Zhang, founder and director of WRIC, and Ann Noonan, executive director of the CUSIB, attended the meeting and delivered speeches. They collectively appeal to the Chinese government to return Liu Xia to freedom as soon as possible.

Liu Xia, 53, is the wife of Chinese dissident and Nobel Peace Prize winner Liu Xiaobo. In 2008, Liu Xiaobo was arrested by the Chinese authorities for drafting “Charter 08”. In December 2009, he was sentenced to 11 years in prison for inciting subversion of state power. After Liu Xiaobo won the award, Liu Xia has been under house arrest by the Chinese government for nearly three years. Jing Zhang said , “Liu Xia has become a symbol of silent resistance to power, and we stand with her.

HOLD ON, LIU XIA Event News Release March 18, 2014

Posted on 2014-03-15 by wrchina

HOLD ON, LIU XIA Event

Tuesday, March 18, 2014 from 3:00-5:00pm

Museum of Tolerance located at 226 East 42nd Street, New York, NY 10017

During Women’s History Month, we celebrate the lives of women who have made outstanding contributions to the global Advancement of Women. Even more, we are concerned about women who are mentally and physically tortured under authoritarian governments.

Liu Xia, a women of conviction, has been under arbitrary house arrest for three years under orders from China’s government, solely due to the fact that her husband was the 2010 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate. Her health is deteriorating day by day as she suffers political persecution and human rights abuses under China’s Regime.

Women’s Rights in China, the Committee for U.S. International Broadcasting, the Visual Artists Guild’s New York Chapter, and civil NGO’s in China and in the United States of America are organizing “Support Liu Xia” to raise concerns for Liu Xia at a special event at the Museum of Tolerance New York City. This event will include a video, photography slide show, and poetry readings.

Organizers and participants hope to raise international attention and gain public support for Liu Xia through this open and free discussion, so Liu Xia can break free from China’s brutal regime and be allowed to live with dignity and basic human rights to which all women and all members of the human family are entitled.

For further information, please contact :

Jing Zhang, Executive Director of Women’s Rights in China

Email: wrchina2007@gmail.com

Ann Noonan, Executive Director of Committee for US International Broadcasting,

Email:annnnoonan@hotmail.com

Peggy Chane, President of Visual Artists Guild New York Chapter

Email: chane@cpcentertainment.com

Please see original post at: https://crchina.live-website.com/index.php/page/4470

Women’s Rights in China’s statement regarding Cao Shunli who’s tortured to death

Posted on 2014-03-14 by wrchina

WRIC March 14th, 2014

Women’s Rights in China’s statement regarding Cao Shunli who’s tortured to death

We were shocked to learn about the sudden death of Cao Shunli, a human rights activist who was detained by Beijing police for six months. We mourn the loss of a brave sister who died under the persecution of a dictatorship. She wrote a sad and grand song about Chinese human rights with her life and blood. March 14th, 2014, a day of darkness. The Chinese Communist regime has been nailed on a pillar of shame. The reputation of the Chinese Communist Party is even more stinky now.

Cao Shunli, who earned a master’s degree in legal studies in Peking University, took to the road of defending human rights after she was dismissed from her government job when she exposed officials’ corruption. Cao Shunli launched the “Beijing Rights Protection Tour,” aiming to increase the participation of disadvantaged groups in drafting the National Human Rights Action Plan, urging the Chinese government to follow international regulations. But the government severely cracked down on such appropriate demands. Cao was sent to a labor camp for one year in 2009. Merely 16 days after she was released in 2010, she was sent back to the labor camp because of the World Expo for another 15 months.

Cao was tortured senselessly during her two terms in labor camps. For instance, she was denied food for five consecutive days. She was then humiliated and force-fed through the nose. Her health deteriorated rapidly as she experienced tremendous physically and mentally.

On September 13, 2013, Cao Shunli was forcefully taken away by police when she was waiting at the Beijing Capital Airport to board a flight to Geneva to participate in a short-term human rights training workshop at the invitation of the United Nations. The police detained her on the charge of “illegal assembly.” On October 21, Cao was formally arrested on a charge of “picking quarrels and provoking trouble.” Five months later, she was finally sent to ER after falling into a coma. On March 14, the Beijing 309 Military Hospital released the news of her death. Cao Shunli was only 52.

Look at the death cases of Li Hong, Li Wangyang and Xue Jinbo. Who will be the next after Cao Shunli? One by one, living people are being subjected to cruel human rights abuses. Such large-scale arrests of dissidents and human rights activists show the deteriorating human rights conditions under the new leadership of the Chinese Communist Party.

Update on Li and Her Family

Posted on 2014-03-01 by wrchina

By WRIC Volunteer 02- ‎11- ‎2014

If you’ve seen It’s a Girl, you know Li’s story. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ISme5-9orR0)

Li and her husband lived in a rural village with their two daughters. Under pressure by their families to have a son, Li and her husband decided to have a third child, in the hopes that it would be a boy. When Li became pregnant again and found out it was going to be another girl, their families insisted she abort the child because another daughter would do them no good. But Li and her husband wanted to keep their child, though she would be born illegally under China’s coercive One-Child Policy. The law restricts couples to one child, or two in rural areas if the first child is a girl to so they can try for a son. This law is strictly enforced and violations can lead to forced abortion or forced sterilization, as well as fines that would take several years salary to pay off. Li gave birth to her third daughter in hiding, with the family planning police actively looking for her. Under extreme pressure, Li and her husband fled to flee to a distant region, away from their three young daughters. They found work in a distant factory, earning what they can to send home to provide for their daughters.

Today, three years after filming Li’s story, we have news from Miss Li. She has returned to her home with her daughters and is currently raising the children on her own. She gave birth to another baby girl last year, now with a total of four daughters. Li’s husband still works in another province to make enough money to pay part of the government fines for exceeding the birth policy limit. The financial strain continues to be great on their family. Li’s in-laws are unwilling to help because she has not birthed a son.

Because we were able to tell Miss Li’s heartbreaking story in It’s a Girl, many viewers have expressed desire to help Miss Li and women and families going through similar situations.

Here is how you can continue to help Miss Li and other women like her in China:

Women’s Rights In China is the grassroots organization that helped the It’s a Girl team reach Miss Li to tell her story. WRIC has helped us get in touch with Miss Li again and has established a way to funnel a limited amount of donations to her and her daughters without putting her at risk for punishment by the government. Because of the complexities of providing direct financial assistance from outside of China, the amount that can be safely provided to Miss Li is limited. But WRIC’s network of field workers has hundreds more women and families in need of similar assistance, and any excess amount of funds received will go directly to support women pregnant with girls in China.

Women’s Rights In China works directly in the field to provide support for women who are pregnant with girls and are at risk of forced abortion in China.

https://crchina.live-website.com/?page_id=1202

By making your tax-deductible donation (in the USA) to Women’s Rights In China, you are helping to provide the help women need to keep their daughters and continued support for Miss Li’s family and the many women and families just like them.

Donate today to help end gendercide in China.

Note: The link above enables you to make donations directly to Women’s Rights in China. All funds go directly to support women and girls in China.