Document - CHINE. Publication d'une note sur la «rééducation par le travail» qui peut être utile aux journalistes

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL

Media Advisory

AI Index: ASA 17/028/2006 (Public)

News Service No: 111

12 May 2006

China: Resource for journalists -- memorandum on 'Re-education through Labour'

Amnesty International is publishing a memorandum to the Chinese authorities that may be useful to journalists as a background resource. It contains sections on the organization's concerns with "Re-education through Labour" laws; recommendations; the independence of the judiciary; and the use of torture in detention.

The press office can arrange interviews with former "Re-education through Labour" detainees and Chinese experts calling for the abolition of "Re-education through Labour" in their country. Please call Saria Rees-Roberts on +44 207 413 5810 if you are interested.

The memo details the organization's concerns on two types of punitive detention imposed by the police in China: "Re-education though Labour" and detention imposed without trial under the new Public Order Administration Punishment Law.

The memorandum is being submitted to the State Council and National People's Congress in the hope that they will be taken into consideration during the ongoing legislative review of "Re-education through Labour".

Amnesty International is concerned that the proposed Illegal Behaviour Correction Law (being drafted as a replacement for current legislation on "Re-education through Labour") will not meet international human rights standards, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).

The memorandum, China: Abolishing "Re-education through Labour" and other forms of punitive administrative detention: An opportunity to bring the law into line with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, can be found from Friday 12 May at: http://web.amnesty.org/library/index/engasa170162006.

Public Document

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For more information please call Amnesty International's press office in London, UK, on +44 20 7413 5566

Amnesty International, 1 Easton St., London WC1X 0DW. web: http://www.amnesty.org

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