Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Following the death of human rights activist Cao Shunli, the FCO has called on authorities to allow all detainees proper medical care. Ms Shunli had been detained since September 2013 whilst travelling from China to attend human rights advocacy training in Geneva.
A Foreign Office spokesperson said:
We are saddened to hear that Chinese human rights activist Cao Shunli has died in detention, after she was reportedly denied medical treatment for serious illness. Ms Cao was a courageous activist who pressed for independent civil society involvement in Chinas Universal Periodic Review process, and was detained in September 2013.
Members of the Human Rights Council are bound to uphold and promote the highest standards of human rights. We strongly urge the Chinese authorities to ensure all detainees have access to adequate medical care, and to release all those detained for exercising their constitutional rights to freedom of expression, association and assembly.
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