Announcing the Inaugural China Human Rights Lawyers’ Day

July 4, 2017

China’s human rights lawyers have since 2003 become one of the most active and effective forces in the country advancing the ideals of universal values, because of their unique role and professional positions. Their work defending the civil rights and liberties of Chinese citizens extends from the internet to the streets, from courtrooms to jails. They’ve fought hard to promote the rule of law and democracy in China.

As prominent representatives of Chinese lawyers, human rights lawyers have been the target of the Chinese government’s persecution since the beginning of the rights defense movement. They’ve had their licenses to practice law revoked, they’ve been followed, threatened, publicly slandered by state media, abducted, disappeared, sent to forced labor camps, imprisoned for lengthy periods, and tortured. Persecution has become commonplace.

The persecution of rights lawyers in China reached its peak on July 9, 2015, when hundreds were detained and interrogated; the crackdown is now known as the “709 Incident.” The barbarism, cruelty, and absurdity with which the Chinese Communist Party began persecuting 709 lawyers and activists, and the torture and humiliation they suffered, has shocked the world. The 709 lawyers’ own defense attorneys and supporters have put up courageous resistance. The unyielding support and advocacy by the wives of human rights lawyers, through smiles and tears, have become iconic images.

The 709 Incident isn’t over, yet it has already left a profound mark on the development of Chinese civilization. It’s far reaching political and historical significance will become clearer in time.

The date of July 9 must become one that we remember and mark from now on. For this reason, we call for the establishment of July 9 as “China Human Rights Lawyers’ Day.” To inaugurate the occasion we will hold an event in Washington, D.C. to celebrate the bravery, wisdom, and will to resist exhibited by human rights lawyers in China. We’ll recall their suffering and sacrifices, demand accountability for the crimes committed against them, whether by the regime or individuals, and call for the international community to continue monitoring their plight and advocating on their behalf.

We firmly believe that someday in the future, in a constitutionally-governed, democratic, and free China, we’ll mark July 9 as a day to honor and celebrate human rights lawyers, and it will become a day that belongs to all of China’s lawyers.

Plans for the Inaugural Chinese Human Rights Lawyers’ Day are as follows:

Location: 1701 20th St NW, Washington, DC 20009

(Taipei and Hong Kong events to be announced later.)

Time: 10:00 a.m. July 9 (Eastern U.S. time)

Format: Exhibition of photographs, screening of a new documentary film about Chinese human rights lawyers, luncheon, discussions, and a march — broadcast online to the world

Social media tags: #709lawyers #中国人权律师节

Organizers:

Chinese Human Rights Lawyers Concern Group (Hong Kong)

China Change (U.S.A)

Committee to Support Chinese Lawyers（U.S.A）

Taiwan Support China Human Rights Lawyers Network (Taiwan)

China Aid (U.S.A)

Initiatives for China (U.S.A)

International Association of People’s Lawyers（Netherlands）

Humanitarian China (U.S.A)

Institute for China’s Democratic Transition (U.S.A)

Day of the Endangered Lawyer (Netherlands)

Taiwan Association for China Human Rights (Taiwan)

New School for Democracy (Hong Kong)

The International Observatory for Lawyers at Risk (OIAD, Europe)

Visual Artists Guild (U.S.A)

Contacts:

Teng Biao: Tel: (617)396-6099 Email: tengbiao89@gmail.com

Yang Jianli Tel: (857)472-9039 Email: yangjianli001@gmail.com

关于举办首届“中国人权律师节”活动的通告

中国人权律师群体，自2003年来已经成为中国大陆民间最活跃的抗争力量之一。从法庭到监狱，从网络到街头，他们为捍卫公民自由和人权，为推动中国走向法治和民主，付出了艰苦的努力。

作为中国律师群体的优秀代表，人权律师从维权运动之初开始，就一直受到中国政府的各种严厉打压：吊销律师证、跟踪、威胁、公开污名化、绑架、秘密失踪、劳教、长期监禁和酷刑，无日无之。

以2015年7月9日为标志的709事件，将对人权律师的迫害推向了一个顶峰。中共当局对人权律师镇压之野蛮、残酷、荒谬，“709律师”和活动人士所承受的酷刑、羞辱和磨难，震惊世界。“709律师”、他们的辩护律师和支持者们，进行着勇敢的抗争；尤其是709律师的妻子们的奔走呐喊，她们的微笑与泪水，在无数关注中\国命运的人们心中，已定格为这个时代最令人动容的形象。

709事件还未结束，就已经在中国文明进程上写下浓重的一笔。其深远的政治意义和历史意义，将随着时间的推移，愈加彰显。

7月9日这个日子由此也必将成为一个不可磨灭的纪念日。我们在此倡议将7月9日设立为“中国人权律师节”。2017年7月9日，我们将举办“首届中国人权律师节”系列活动，庆祝中国人权律师的勇气、智慧和抗争；记住他们的苦难和付出；记录和追究政府和个人所犯下的罪行；推动国际社会对中国的人权状况予以持续关注和支持。

我们坚信，在未来的某个7月9日，我们将在一个宪政法治、自由民主的中国，庆祝这个不仅仅属于人权律师、也将属于全体中国律师的节日。

“首届中国人权律师节”活动计划

【时间】2017年7月9日 美东时间上午10点

【地点】美国华盛顿 1701 20th St NW, Washington, DC 20009

(香港、台湾活动计划另行通知)

【形式】图片展、纪录片放映、聚餐、讨论会、游行、全球连线与直播。

【社交媒体标签】#中国人权律师节 #709lawyers

【主办】

中国维权律师关注组（香港）

改变中国（美国）

声援中国律师委员会（美国）

台湾支持中国人权律师网络 （台湾）

对华援助协会（美国）

公民力量 （美国）

国际人民律师协会 （荷兰）

人道中国 （美国）

中国民主转型研究所 （美国）

国际危难律师日 （荷兰）

台湾关怀中国人权联盟 （台湾）

华人民主书院 （香港）

危难律师国际观察（欧洲多国）

视觉艺术家协会 （美国）

【联系】

滕 彪 电话：（617）396 6099； Email：tengbiao89@gmail.com

杨建利 电话： (857) 472 9039； Email: yangjianli001@gmail.com

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