The China Debate (TCD)
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) granted Beijing the 2008 Olympic Games on 13 July 2001. During the bidding process and afterwards, Chinese and Olympic officials including Liu Jingmin, the Vice-President of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games Bid Committee and the President of the IOC, Jacques Rogge, assured that human rights in China would improve as a result of hosting the Games.
“By allowing Beijing to host the Games you will help the development of human rights.”
Liu Jingmin, Vice-President of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games Bid Committee April 2001
On 10 April 2008 Rogge reminded the Chinese authorities of its promise. The IOC stated that it relies on international human rights organizations, including Amnesty International, to monitor and report on the human rights situation in China. If grave human rights violations are not being sufficiently addressed as part of the preparations for the Games, it is compelled to take action.
Since then, Amnesty International has worked on assessing the Chinese human rights situation, with a particular focus on four human rights issues where progress is needed:
• repression of activists
• detention without trial
• censorship
• death penalty
The China Debate (TCD) is a public platform to debate the issues and respond to the question - ‘What human rights legacy can the Beijing Olympics bring to China?’
The four focus issues have long attracted calls for reform from within China from legislators, academics and activists, as well as internationally. They also represent necessary progress towards China's intention to ratify the United Nation International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. China has already ratified the UN International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.