The request comes following a year of increased repression in China. Activists say that despite ongoing economic reforms in China and the continuation of Canada's bilateral human rights dialogue with China, the country s record on human rights has further deteriorated. We need more than vague promises. Canadian human rights groups have identified a number of human rights violations and have written to the Prime Minister to bring these to his attention, including the case of political prisoner Xu Jian, the use of torture, labour rights, freedom of expression and religion.
Torture leads to countless deaths every year.
Chinese authorities continue to ignore numerous recommendations, made by the United Nations and others, which would help bring this horrifying practice to an end. Ken Georgetti, President of the Canadian Labour Congress, expressed his disappointment that the Prime Minister turned down requests to meet representatives of civil society prior to his departure. Tibetan activists pointed to the continued detention of the 11-year old Panchen Lama as an issue which demonstrates the fundamental disrespect for human rights in China.