Human rights in China and the Beijing Olympics

With Beijing hosting 2008's Olympic Games, Amnesty International hoped the event could create a positive human rights legacy for China. The Chinese authorities pledged that human rights would improve through the hosting of the Games. Amnesty International held them to their word.

We monitored China's human rights performance, particularly in areas linked to preparations for the Olympics. We judged their progress and informed the world.

Our aim was to assess the impact of the Games on human rights in China, to highlight important related issues and to get the world involved.

Featured Issues

Featured Issues

Criminals sentenced to death during an open trial in Zhuzhou, central China's Hunan province December 2006

Stop executions

Amnesty International believes there is likely to have been a significant drop in executions since the Supreme People’s Court review for all death sentences was restored in January 2007.
Police detain a Falun Gong protester in Tiananmen Square as a crowd watches in Beijing Oct. 1, 2000

Respect the rights of activists

As the Olympics approached, human rights activists in China faced serious risk of abuse.
Chinese police raid an illegal Internet cafe in the southern city of Guangzhou, 20 June 2002

Freedom from censorship

In 2001, when Beijing was chosen to host the 2008 Olympics, the Chinese government promised “no restrictions on media reporting and movement of journalists up to and including the Olympic Games.
Patients at the Kunming Municipal Compulsory Rehabilitation Centre receive anti-drug education, July 2005

Fair trials for all

In May 2006, Beijing extended use of a system of detention without trial called Re-education Through Labour, to "clean up" the city’s image before the Olympics.

News and Updates

News and Updates

Chinese authorities lift blocks on some websites

1 August 2008

Journalists based in Beijing have told Amnesty International that the organization's website together with several others have been unblocked in the Olympics media venues.

Amnesty International website blocked at Olympic venue

28 July 2008

Foreign journalists working from the Olympics press centre in Beijing are unable to access amnesty.org, as Amnesty International prepares to launch a new report evaluating the Chinese authorities’ human rights performance in the run-up to the Games.
The Beijing National Stadium

Chinese authorities’ broken promises threaten Olympic legacy

28 July 2008

As the Olympic Games begin, Amnesty International's report shows that the Chinese authorities have broken their promise to improve the country’s human rights situation and betrayed the core values of the Olympics.
Ye Guozhu

Ye Guozhu must be released immediately

23 July 2008

The Chinese authorities say they will now not free the housing rights activist when his four-year prison sentence expires on 26 July. Amnesty International demands he be freed.