“Human rights defenders in China are being treated as enemies of the state for no more than speaking out, organizing peacefully, or engaging with the outside world. Women human rights defenders were also targeted. “[Authorities] can take whatever you do – any behaviour or action – and define it as criminal,” Chinese human rights lawyer interviewed for the report“[Authorities] can take whatever you do – any behaviour or action – and define it as criminal,” said one Chinese human rights lawyer interviewed for the report. “The criminalization of human rights defenders in China also has a chilling effect far beyond those directly targeted. Yet still, Chinese human rights defenders persist – and the world must stand with them.”BackgroundThe report is based on Amnesty International’s analysis of 102 official indictments and verdicts from 68 cases involving 64 human rights defenders highlighted by UN human rights mechanisms between 2014 and 2024.