Story highlights The international community is calling for the release of the five women

Chinese authorities detained them last month over their campaign for gender equality

(CNN) The United States is urging China to release five young feminists who face years in prison over their campaign for gender equality.

Authorities detained the women in three cities -- Beijing, Guangzhou and Hangzhou -- a few days ahead of events planned for International Women's Day on March 8.

"Each and every one of us has the right to speak out against sexual harassment and the many other injustices that millions of women and girls suffer around the world," U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said in a statement Friday.

"We strongly support the efforts of these activists to make progress on these challenging issues, and we believe that Chinese authorities should also support them, not silence them."

Free the five

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