- The Games take place in a context of deteriorating human rights situation
- The international community must not be complicit in the exercise of sportwashing
- IOC should better protect athletes’ rights following Peng Shuai case
The world must use the Beijing Winter Olympics and Paralympics as an opportunity to promote human rights improvements in China, Amnesty International has said ahead of next month’s Games.
The Chinese capital will host athletes, officials and diplomats from around the world for the Games, which begin on February 4. But the event will take place against the backdrop of myriad ongoing human rights abuses in the country.
“The Beijing Olympics promise to be a memorable sporting spectacle, but the world watching cannot willfully ignore what is happening elsewhere in China: lawyers and activists imprisoned for their peaceful work; sexual assault survivors punished for speaking out; the estimated thousands of executions each year; Muslim ethnic groups facing systematic mass internment, torture and persecution,” said Alkan Akad, China researcher at Amnesty International.
“The Games should not be used to distract from China’s appalling human rights record. On the contrary, they should be an opportunity to pressure China to address these issues.
The IOC should ensure promises are kept
The Chinese government gave a series of human rights assurances ahead of hosting the Winter Olympics, including respect for media freedom, labor rights, “displacement” and guaranteeing real opportunities for peaceful protest during the Games.
Amnesty International is calling on the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to fully implement and publicly disclose its human rights due diligence policies and practices before and during the Games.
“The right to freedom of expression is systematically violated in China. This is why it is vital that the IOC and the various National Olympic Committees present at the Games adequately respect the willingness of athletes and sports officials to speak out on human rights, including on matters deemed ” sensitive” by the authorities,” said Alkan Akad.
“The IOC must also insist that the Chinese government keep its promise to guarantee media freedom, including unrestricted internet access for Chinese and international journalists, and to ensure that those who wish to demonstrate peacefully during the Games can do it.”
Amnesty International is urging government officials, including those planning to attend the Olympics, to place human rights at the top of the agenda in their discussions with the Chinese authorities.
“The world must heed the lessons of the 2008 Beijing Games, when The Chinese government’s promises to improve human rights have never materialized,” said Alkan Akad.
“The Beijing Winter Olympics must not be seen as a sport-washing opportunity for the Chinese authorities, and the international community must not become complicit in a propaganda exercise.”
Peace activists detained in China
Ahead of the Games, Amnesty International launched its ‘Free the Five’ campaign which highlights the plight of five Chinese activists among the many detained for exercising their right to freedom of expression. They are citizen journalist Zhang Zhan, Uyghur professor Ilham Tohti, labor rights activist Li Qiaochu, human rights lawyer Gao Zhisheng and Tibetan blogger Rinchen Tsultrim.
“The unjust imprisonment of these five peaceful activists is emblematic of the Chinese government’s intolerance of all opposing views and its willingness to punish dissent in the harshest possible terms,” said Alkan. Akad.
“If the Chinese government wants to use the Olympics as a showcase for the country, it should start by releasing all those who have been prosecuted or detained solely for peacefully exercising their human rights.”
Athletes must be able to express themselves freely
The IOC is committed – through its Safe Sport initiative – to supporting the rights of athletes and protecting them from harassment and abuse “on and off the pitch”. However, the strict Covid-19 “bubble” imposed at Beijing 2022 will severely limit the freedom of movement of athletes in a way that could make it even more difficult for them to freely exercise their rights to freedom of expression and peaceful meeting.
Late last year, tennis player and three-time Olympian Peng Shuai made sexual assault allegations against a former Chinese vice premier in a social media post that was quickly censored in China. . When the reference to her was removed from the internet and she disappeared from public view, other players and the Women’s Tennis Association expressed fears about Peng’s fate. Nearly three weeks after his post was censored, the IOC responded by arranging a video call with Peng in an attempt to allay concerns about his wellbeing and whereabouts.
“The IOC accepted assurances about Peng Shuai’s well-being without corroborating whether she had suffered limitations on her freedom of expression, freedom of movement and right to privacy, thus running the risk of being laundered. potential violations of Peng Shuai’s human rights,” Alkan Akad said. .
After heavy criticism, the IOC acknowledged in December “we can’t give assurances and we don’t know all the facts”. They insisted that “all aspects of the matter are being discussed with the Chinese side” and that it will continue beyond the Games.
“Amid the severe restrictions in place at Beijing 2022, the IOC must do better to deliver on its promise to protect the right of athletes to express their opinions – and above all to ensure that it is not complicit in any violation of athletes’ rights,” said Alkan Akad. noted.
