Press Release: Declaration by High Representative Catherine Ashton on behalf of the European Union regarding the treatment of human rights defenders and their relatives in China

On 1 February 2014, the High Representative Catherine Ashton on behalf of the EU welcomed recent decisions by the Chinese authorities to deepen the reform of the justice system and to uphold the Constitution and laws to protect human rights.

However, in recent weeks, the EU became seriously concerned about the trials, convictions, detention and house arrests of a number of Chinese human rights defenders. She therefore, on the behalf of the EU, urged China to implement the pledges before the Human Rights Council, by releasing all those imprisoned or detained for the peaceful expression of their views.