Brussels, 18/11/2015 (Agence Europe) - In a press release on Monday 16 November, the EU's special representative for human rights, Stavros Lambrinidis, called on China to let lawyers work in freedom.
“Rule of law requires lawyers that can practise freely without fear of persecution and provide checks and balances against the miscarriage of justice”, said Lambrinidis at the end of his visit to China (4-9 November). During his meetings, Lambrinidis reiterated the EU's strong concern at the recent arrests, detentions and summons of hundreds of human rights lawyers and activists. According to the European External Action Service (EEAS), around 20 lawyers or human rights activists are still reportedly unaccounted for and denied basic rights.
Speaking also about the new laws on security (including counter-terrorism laws), and about cybersecurity and the management of non-governmental organisations, Lambrinidis urged China “to amend provisions that could curtail freedom of expression and association, freedom of religion and belief, and people-to-people contacts, in order to bring the draft legislation into line with international law and standards”, the press release states.
In addition, Lambrinidis believes that discussing “difficult human rights issues in a frank, open and constructive way” with China is a “sign of the maturity” of the EU-China relationship. On 22 October, an EEAS policy adviser admitted to the European Parliament that the EU had not managed to bring about an improvement in China's human rights situation (see EUROPE 11416). The next round of EU-China human rights dialogue is planned for 30 November in Beijing. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)
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