China Campaign Toolkit

Recommended Actions

PEN members are asked to carry out as many of the following activities in the coming months as they can. Even one action will have impact:

• Appeals: Write a letter to the Chinese authorities protesting the detention of writers and journalists in China.

• A petition: collect signatures from your members and PEN supporters in your country asking the Chinese government to release all imprisoned writers and journalists, abide by its Olympic-year pledges to allow press freedom, and reform laws that are used to jail writers and journalists in violation of their right to freedom of expression. PEN American Center has a sample petition you can use or adapt.

• Weekly Actions: write a letter to the Chinese government every week between now and the Olympics focusing on one or two of the writers and journalists currently in prison in China. PEN American Center has a schedule and sends out weekly information and sample letters for individuals and centres to use.

• Monthly Actions on China: There will be monthly actions with a China focus sent to the RAN network. Centres are encouraged to participate.

• Letters to the media: The present media interest in China in the run-up to the Olympic Games makes the concerns for writers in China more likely to be picked up. Centres are encouraged to use the material provided in the campaign to publish articles in your local media.

• Lobbying the Chinese authorities: Centres are asked to request meetings with Chinese diplomats and representatives in their own countries.

• Lobby sporting and other delegations to Beijing: Centres are encouraged to brief sports journalists covering the Games on the issues of human rights and free expression in China.

• Elect a Writer in China as an Honorary Member: Contact the International PEN Asia Researcher, Cathy McCann.

• Sign onto the International PEN Writers in Prison Committee China Campaign email list for regular updates on China issues. To join, email to Cathy McCann.

 

Please send appeals to

His Excellency Hu Jintao
President of the People's Republic of China
State Council
Beijing 100032
P.R.China.

Chief Judge Mr. WANG Shengjun
President of the Supreme People's Court
No.27 Dongjiaominxiang
Dongcheng District, Beijing 100745
People's Republic of China

Procurator General Mr. CAO Jianming
Supreme People's Procuratorate
Beiheyan Street 147
100726 Beijing
People's Republic of China People's Republic of China

 

• Please note that there are no fax numbers for the Chinese authorities. WiPC recommends that you copy your appeal to the Chinese embassy in your country asking them to forward it and welcoming any comments.
• Please copy appeals to the diplomatic representative for China in your country if possible.

 

For further information please contact

Cathy McCann at International PEN Writers in Prison Committee
Brownlow House, 50/51 High Holborn, London WC1V 6ER

Tel.+ 44 (0) 20 7405 0338
Fax: +44 (0) 20 7405 0339
Email: cathy.mccann@internationalpen.org.uk