In May 2008, an earthquake hit Sichuan province causing massive landslides and buildings to collapse. Official figures put the number of deaths at 69,227 with 17,923 individuals still missing and 374,643 individuals injured. Many of the dead and injured were school children. For months, mourning parents’ pleas for justice and accountability have met with frustration. Amnesty International calls on the Chinese authorities to take immediate action to ensure the justice system works for parents and survivors by allowing them unhindered access to independent and impartial tribunals and lawyers and activists who have offered assistance.
