12/03/2015 (Agence Europe) - EU calls for release of women's rights protesters. On Thursday 12 March, the European Union called on the Chinese authorities to release immediately the women's rights protesters who were arrested and detained on the grounds that they wanted to launch a campaign against sexual harassment on International Women's Day. The arrests and detentions “violate their right to protest peacefully” a spokesperson for the high representative of the EU stated. “We expect the Chinese authorities to release them without delay and to allow them immediate access to legal assistance and to their families”, the spokesperson added. At least five protesters are said to have been arrested. (CCG)