Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

The Rights Practice @rightspractice.bsky.social · 1d

3/ China has continued to promote policies that encourage harsher punishments, despite drug offences not meeting threshold for "most serious crime" under international law. There is an urgent need to shift perception of drug crime as a national security issue towards the right to health.

The Rights Practice @rightspractice.bsky.social · 1d

2/ China is the world's leading executioner, although death penalty statistics are a state secret. Drug crime is understood to represent a large percentage of executions. Drug crimes are framed as a threat to national security and social stability.

1

The Rights Practice @rightspractice.bsky.social · 1d

1/ Today, 10 October, marks World Day Against the Death Penalty. This year, World Day is dedicated to challenging the misconception that the death penalty can make people and communities safer. #NoDeathPenalty

1 1

Reposted by The Rights Practice

Nicola Macbean @nicolamacbean.bsky.social · 1d

On World Day Against the Death Penalty I was pleased to introduce a webinar organised by prisonersrights.org/english/ on the death penalty in Asia and contribution of www.klguidelines.com

@rightspractice.bsky.social was pleased to have helped facilitate drafting of the KL Guidelines.

About us | NPO法人監獄人権センター

About us NPO法人監獄人権センターは、刑事拘禁施設の人権状況を国際水準に合致するよう改善していくこと、死刑制度を廃止すること等を目的として活動しています。

prisonersrights.org

1 1

The Rights Practice @rightspractice.bsky.social · 8d

4/ Read our joint statement, published on 3 September, which expressed our grave concern over the disciplinary proceedings and subsequent disbarment of Kevin Yam. www.rights-practice.org/news/joint-s...

Joint Statement: Disbarment against Hong Kong lawyer Kevin Yam

On 3 September 2025, The Rights Practice and seven other organisations issued a joint statement to express their grave concern over the disciplinary proceedings and disbarment of Hong Kong solicitor K...

www.rights-practice.org

The Rights Practice @rightspractice.bsky.social · 8d

3/ "States must guarantee that those who practice law can do so free from intimidation, obstacles, harassment or interference... Their function is key to the right to a fair trial." @keviinkfyam.bsky.social @unsr-judges.bsky.social @irene-khan.bsky.social

1

The Rights Practice @rightspractice.bsky.social · 8d

2/ The experts said: "This is a new retaliation and an alarming assault on freedom of expression and lawyers’ rights to practice their profession and express their views in line with international standards"

1

The Rights Practice @rightspractice.bsky.social · 8d

1/ On 3 October 2025, UN experts expressed alarm that lawyer Kevin Yam (Yam Kin Fung) was disbarred and financially penalised on 16 July 2025 in direct connection with public statements he made about the independence of judges and prosecutors in Hong Kong www.ohchr.org/en/press-rel...

UN experts condemn reprisals against Hong Kong lawyer Kevin Yam

GENEVA – UN experts* today expressed alarm that lawyer Kevin Yam (Yam Kin Fung) was disbarred and financially penalised on 16 July 2025 in direct connection with public statements he made about the in...

www.ohchr.org

1 1

The Rights Practice @rightspractice.bsky.social · 9d

We, along with 52 other rights groups, signed a joint letter to urgently raise serious concerns with Volker Türk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, regarding systemic abuses occurring inside Hong Kong’s prisons. www.rights-practice.org/news/joint-l... @thecfhk.bsky.social

Joint letter: Systemic abuses in Hong Kong's prisons

On 30 September 2025, The Rights Practice signed a joint letter, along with 52 other rights groups, to urgently raise serious concerns regarding systemic abuses occurring in Hong Kong's prisons.

www.rights-practice.org

1 1

Reposted by The Rights Practice

ISHR @ishr.ch · 22d

UN Chief warns of rising transnational repression against human rights defenders

These acts are directly aimed at individuals and organisations engaging with the United Nations, and in some cases, their family members and colleagues.

UN Chief warns of rising transnational repression against human rights defenders

ISHR welcomes the inclusion in the report of the case of Basma Mostafa, a woman human rights defender and journalist from Egypt who is subject to targeted transnational repression (TNR).

ishr.ch

3 3

Reposted by The Rights Practice

CHRD人权捍卫者 @chrdnet.bsky.social · 19d

#UN #HumanRights Office expresses deep concern over citizen journalist #ZhangZhan ’s 4-year sentence for the vague charge of “picking quarrels.” The High Commissioner calls for its repeal and an immediate moratorium on its use.
👉 www.ohchr.org/en/press-rel...

4 8

Reposted by The Rights Practice

RSF @rsf.org · 22d

Diplomats & journalists were barred from #ZhangZhan’s trial today, as the regime concealed all details of the proceedings. A chilling reminder of how far 🇨🇳 will go to suppress access to independent information. We renew our call: Zhang Zhan must be freed. This persecution must end. #FreeZhangZhan

COVID-19 journalist Zhang Zhan will be tried this week in China, RSF calls on international community to act

Chinese journalist Zhang Zhan spent four years in prison for breaking some of the earliest COVID-19 stories from Wuhan, the Chinese city where the virus took hold. Now, she is about to be tried in the...

rsf.org

4 4

Reposted by The Rights Practice

ISHR @ishr.ch · Sep 8

Arbitrary detention & enforced disappearance silence defenders in 🇨🇳 China.
Hear from experts, incl. Mary Lawlor, Rizwangul NurMuhammed, Sophie Richardson & Yalkun Uluyol.
🗓️ 9 Sept | ⏰ 1–2pm | 📍Palais des Nations, Room VIII
#HRC57 #StandUp4HumanRights

2 2

The Rights Practice @rightspractice.bsky.social · Sep 3

The Rights Practice & 7 other organisations issue joint statement to express grave concern over disciplinary proceedings and disbarment of Hong Kong solicitor Kevin Yam.

tinyurl.com/3nyamfnd

@thelawsociety.bsky.social @asianlawyersn.bsky.social @lawyersforlawyers.bsky.social @ibahri.bsky.social

Joint Statement: Disbarment against Hong Kong lawyer Kevin Yam

On 3 September 2025, The Rights Practice and seven other organisations issued a joint statement to express their grave concern over the disciplinary proceedings and disbarment of Hong Kong solicitor K...

www.rights-practice.org

2 2

Reposted by The Rights Practice

Asian Lawyers Network (ALN) @asianlawyersn.bsky.social · Sep 3

Joint statement on #KevinYam’s disbarment
@lawyersforlawyers.bsky.social @thelawsociety.bsky.social @rightspractice.bsky.social @ibahri.bsky.social

Attn: @unsr-judges.bsky.social

1 3 3

Reposted by The Rights Practice

Lawyers for Lawyers @lawyersforlawyers.bsky.social · Sep 3

🚨 Concern over #disbarment and #reprisals against #HongKong lawyer #KevinYam

In a joint letter, we call on Chinese authorities to respect his rights and reverse his disbarment: www.lawyersforlawyers.org?p=39514&prev...

Disbarment and reprisals against Hong Kong lawyer Kevin Yam amid a broader pattern of intimidation of lawyers defending the rule of law - Lawyers for Lawyers

Find PDF version here Lawyers for Lawyers (L4L), the Law Society of England and Wales (LSEW), the International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI), the Council of Bars and Law…

www.lawyersforlawyers.org

1 3 3

Reposted by The Rights Practice

Nicola Macbean @nicolamacbean.bsky.social · Aug 29

Good to see coverage of this underreported practice of exit bans in China. In the case of critics the police cite national security and there may be no role for the court.

economist.com/china/2025/0...
from The Economist

Chinese courts can bar even those not accused of crimes from leaving the country

Both foreign executives and political dissidents have been affected

economist.com

1 3

Reposted by The Rights Practice

Sophie Richardson @sophiedrich.bsky.social · Aug 13

“The Special Rapporteur expressed disappointment that despite her requests 4 updates on any investigations in2 Gao Zhisheng’s disappearance, no information has thus far been provided, & renewed her appeal to the Chinese authorities to establish his fate & whereabouts.”

www.ohchr.org/en/press-rel...

UN Special Rapporteur: China must uphold the rights of imprisoned human rights defenders

GENEVA – China must uphold the rights of imprisoned human rights defenders, including by ensuring that they are not subjected to torture or ill-treatment, a UN expert said today.“I have been disturbed...

www.ohchr.org

4 3

Reposted by The Rights Practice

CHRD人权捍卫者 @chrdnet.bsky.social · Aug 13

Despite repeated efforts by #GaoZhisheng 's family and fellow activists, including raising his case at the #UN #HumanRights Council, the #China govt has never admitted to holding him. His location and status remain unknown.
www.nchrd.org/2025/08/chin...

3 1

The Rights Practice @rightspractice.bsky.social · Jul 22

READ our important new report: When the State Makes you Work. The use of state-imposed forced labour in China.

State-imposed forced labour is a systemic practice in China using both the state’s powers to detain and to assign labour.

www.rights-practice.org/news/report-...

Report: When the State Makes you Work

In July 2025, The Rights Practice published an important new report: "When the State Makes you Work. The use of state-imposed forced labour in China".

www.rights-practice.org

1

Reposted by The Rights Practice

Human Rights Watch @hrw.org · Jul 8

Beginning July 9, 2015, Chinese police arrested over 300 human rights lawyers and advocates in a nationwide operation known as the “709 crackdown.”

In the decade since, authorities have subjected many of them to surveillance, harassment, public shaming, and collective punishment. bit.ly/4lfbzkn

2 47 84

Reposted by The Rights Practice

Nicola Macbean @nicolamacbean.bsky.social · Jul 9

‘709’ Today is the 10th anniversary of China’s crackdown on its courageous human rights lawyers. I remember the sinking feeling as I learned in the days that followed of lawyers being disappeared without any due process. Friends imprisoned and tortured in RSDL.

The repression continues.

2 4

Reposted by The Rights Practice

Asian Lawyers Network (ALN) @asianlawyersn.bsky.social · Jul 7

ALN @asianlawyersn.bsky.social joined 30 other organisations to issue this joint statement to mark the 10th anniversary of #709Crackdown.

The Rights Practice @rightspractice.bsky.social · Jul 7

On 7 July 2025, The Rights Practice & 30 other orgs issue joint statement to mark 10 years since "709" crackdown. We call on concerned governments and the United Nations to establish an independent, international investigation into Beijing’s persecution of civil society. tinyurl.com/5dnezenw

Joint statement: Call for international action, ten years after "709" crackdown

On 7 July 2025, The Rights Practice, and 30 other organisations, urge the United Nations to establish an independent, international investigation into Beijing’s persecution of civil society, ten years...

tinyurl.com

2 2

Reposted by The Rights Practice

The Guardian @theguardian.com · Jul 7

China’s human rights lawyers speak out, 10 years after crackdown

In 2015, a nationwide campaign rounded up hundreds of rights advocates. Since then, suppression has become more systematic and less visible, lawyers say

www.theguardian.com

2 24 57

The Rights Practice @rightspractice.bsky.social · Jul 7

@chrdnet.bsky.social @amnesty.org @article19.bsky.social @asianlawyersn.bsky.social @freedomhouse.bsky.social @hrichina.bsky.social @hrw.org @safeguarddefenders.bsky.social

1