Report in English (pdf) and Chinese (pdf)
Police torture, violent cell mates, denied lawyer meetings, overcrowded cells and little to no outdoor time are common experiences for those locked up in China’s detention centres, according to a new report out today by Safeguard Defenders.
Behind Bars: a survey on detention centre conditions in China, based on a survey of 84 former detainees, paints a grim picture with respondents reporting widespread abuses and violations of both international law and Chinese law and regulations. Its findings should be a stark reminder for foreign governments considering security agreements or extradition arrangements with Beijing that such cooperation is incompatible with fundamental human rights principles.
[...]
The report’s primary research findings are:
- Detention centres routinely violate domestic regulations and international standards leading to problems such as overcrowding, inadequate medical care and exposure to violence.
- Detainees’ rights to legal counsel are routinely obstructed with lawyer meetings blocked and inmates pressured to hire a pliant duty lawyer.
- Regulatory shortfalls and the widespread occurrence of abuses indicate structural weaknesses in oversight.
- Of particular concern is the phenomenon of “cell bosses”, who are often authorized or tolerated by detention officers to maintain discipline among inmates through intimidation and abuse
[...]
The report was officially released on 16 June at an event organized by Safeguard Defenders in Lisbon, Portugal on the risks of hostage diplomacy and arbitrary detention in China. Speaking at the event were Peter Humphrey from the UK, a former corporate fraud investigator who was imprisoned in China and now volunteers to help the families of foreigners arrested or sentenced in China and Canadian Grace Chen, an international human rights lawyer and former legal advisor to the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture.
In the days leading up to the event, China tried to cancel it by writing a letter to the venue urging them not to offer a "platform for actions that vilify China." Also, an X account that impersonates Safeguard Defenders and is likely linked to Beijing posted our event announcement but changed the date, time and location.
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