Human Rights in China
Focus Areas
Chinese Human Rights Lawyers
Standing in solidarity with rights-defending lawyers in China who have had their licenses revoked, been arrested, or been subjected to enforced disappearance, including T'ang Chi-t'an, Liu Wei, Wang Yü, Yü Wen-sheng, and others.
The Li Ming-che Case
Taiwanese citizen Li Ming-che lost contact after traveling to China in March 2017 and was sentenced to 5 years in prison in November of that year. JRF has continued to monitor and advocate for him, and Li Ming-che returned to Taiwan upon completing his sentence in April 2022.
International Monitoring Mechanisms
Calling on the United Nations to establish an independent monitoring mechanism for human rights violations in China, and urging the international community to jointly respond to China's suppression of civil society.
Taiwanese in China
Tracking Taiwanese citizens subjected to enforced disappearance or arbitrary detention in China, including cases such as Fu Cha (Li Meng-chü), and paying close attention to the gap in the protection of personal freedom across the Taiwan Strait.
What is the "709 Crackdown"?
In the early morning hours of July 9, 2015, Chinese police initiated a massive wave of arrests targeting human rights lawyers and activists, known as the "709 Crackdown." Within a matter of weeks, over 300 lawyers, legal assistants, and human rights defenders across China were summoned, detained, or subjected to enforced disappearance, including prominent figures such as Wang Yü, Chiang T'ien-yung, and Chai Yen-min.
This was the largest political purge targeting the legal profession in modern Chinese history. Those detained not only faced criminal prosecution, but some were also long denied the right to meet with lawyers while subjected to "residential surveillance at a designated location," with their families' visitation and communication strictly restricted.
Taiwan's Role: Due to the unique historical connection between Taiwan and China, Taiwanese civil society bears a high degree of responsibility and concern for human rights issues in China. JRF believes that defending the right to counsel for Chinese lawyers is also a crucial effort to safeguard the quality of cross-strait judicial exchanges and prevent Taiwanese citizens from facing similar treatment in China.
Key Milestones
Featured Articles and Statements
Below are key articles and action records for this project. Click to read the full text (opens in a new window).
Support JRF and Keep Human Rights Advocacy Heard
The Judicial Reform Foundation is a non-profit organization that relies on public support for its long-term operations. Your donations allow us to continuously monitor Chinese human rights lawyers, stand in solidarity regarding the personal freedom of Taiwanese citizens in China, and promote international monitoring mechanisms.
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2017
2nd Anniversary of China's "709 Crackdown" | Bring Li Ming-che and the 709 Detainees Home
On the eve of the second anniversary of the world-shocking "709" crackdown on human rights lawyers in China, the…
2017
Searching for Li Ming-che: Joint Press Conference by Family Members and Civil Society Organizations
Mr. Li Ming-che, a program manager at Wenshan Community College, took an EVA Air flight from Taipei to Macau on the…
2016
At a Crucial Juncture for Marriage Equality in Taiwan, Looking at LGBT in China
On the morning of December 26, tens of thousands of citizens gathered outside the Legislative Yuan, witnessing through…
2016
Tibet: Home in the Exile's Dream
Tibet is approaching six decades under Chinese rule, facing multifaceted persecution in the name of modernization and…
2016
[Post-Press Release] Subversion Charges Applied to Rights Lawyers for the First Time: Press Conference in Support of Chinese Human Rights Lawyers
Following the first anniversary of the 709 Crackdown, the Chinese government successively arranged for Ch'ao Wei,…
2016
Free Chinese Lawyers from Their Cages - Taiwanese Civil Society's Statement in Solidarity with Detained Lawyers in China's "709 Crackdown"
Taiwanese civil society expressed concern and protest regarding China's "709 crackdown" twice last July and this…
2016
China Human Rights Lawyers Group: One-Year Anniversary of the Shattered Dream of the Rule of Law
Starting from the early morning of July 9 last year when Chinese police illegally detained Wang Yu's family, the…
2016
Radio Interview on the Kenya Deportation Case: Li Chia-wen / Professor, Department of Law, National Cheng Kung University
The Kenya case involves many complex issues. While people may focus on national sovereignty, whether we are shielding…
2016
China Human Rights Lawyers Group Selects Top 10 Human Rights Cases of 2015
The "709" crackdown on human rights lawyers and citizens, which shocked the world, began in the early hours of July 9,…
2015
Human Rights for Legal Defenders: A Modest Appeal Amidst State Repression — Civil Society Press Conference in Solidarity with Chinese Human Rights Lawyers
One of the voices China fears the most comes from Taiwan. If Taiwan's media only engages in self-censorship and avoids…
2015
Do Lawyers Deserve Human Rights? Such a Humble Request! ~ Joint Statement in Support of Chinese Human Rights Lawyers
Having experienced the authoritarian era of martial law, Taiwan deeply understands that democracy, human rights, and…
2015
Personal Chronicle: Human Rights Incidents Involving Chinese Lawyers in 2014
The following is a record of human rights incidents involving Chinese lawyers compiled by Attorney Ch'en Lei, spanning…