Statement by the Spokesperson on the cases of several human rights defenders in China

In its December 2015 review of China, the UN Committee Against Torture had expressed serious concern over reports about the practice of torture and ill-treatment in China's criminal justice system.

Following this statement, the European Union expected that the competent authorities in China would investigate, without delay, the account of torture in the case of Xie Yang and the allegations of torture in the cases of Li Heping and Wang Quanzhang. Pursuant to Article 18 of China's Criminal Procedure Law, if the accounts of mistreatment or torture would be confirmed, this should result in the punishment of the responsible persons. In the meantime, all necessary measures to ensure the safety and wellbeing of these individuals need to be taken.

• Primary Source

EU: EEAS: China and the EU https://eeas.europa.eu/headquarters/headquarters-homepage/15394/china-and-eu_en

---