26th Meeting 58th Session of Human Rights Council UN Web TV
ID with Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights (cont’d) and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism (Cont’d)
International PEN, Ms. Tatyana Eatwell
发言内容：
Thank you, Mr. Vice-President,
International Pen has documented a disturbing global trend in the abuse of counter-terrorism and national security laws in order to suppress the exercise of freedom of expression of writers, journalists and publishers. Emblematic of this abuse of power is the misuse of criminal laws including the draconian national security law by the Hong Kong authorities to target, harass and imprison pro-democracy campaigners, journalists and activists in recent years.
This is a sorry reminder of the extent to which the Chinese and Hong Kong authorities are willing to weaponize the law to silence dissent and other legitimate expressions of opinion. When the law was imposed in 2020, UN experts warned that its broadly defined offenses could lead to its arbitrary interpretation and enforcement to undermine human rights.
With the trial of journalist, publisher and pro-democracy activist Jimmy Lai now 77, those warnings have become an alarming reality. Mr. Lai is accused of sedition, said to arise out of his journalism. The ordinary actions of a media owner and writer and are being treated as crimes. He’s also being accused of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces for discussing democracy with parliamentarians and raising concern about human rights abuses.
These are not crimes. These are legitimate actions protected under international law.
The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention has found Mr. Lai as arbitrarily detained, is being denied his fundamental right to a fair trial, targeted because of his exercise of his right to freedom of expression. He should never have been prosecuted and should be immediately released.
International Pen thanks the Special Rapporteur for raising this case with China and Hong Kong.
We call on China and Hong Kong to respect human rights, repeal its draconian national security laws and to immediately release Mr. Lai.
消息来源：26th Meeting – 58th Session of Human Rights Council, https://webtv.un.org/en/asset/k19/k19dcvneae.
