China's reputation as a global juggernaut, fueled by booming business over the last few decades, continues to be marred by its poor human-rights record. The latest example is the plight of five women's rights activists who are currently jailed for holding peaceful public protests.
International leaders have publicly called for the release of Wu Rongrong, Wei Tingting, Wang Man, Zheng Churan and Li Tingting, who are all imprisoned under China's Article 293 law, which punishes anyone who "undermines public order" with "provocative and disturbing behaviors."
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The women were arrested separately prior to a planned March 6 protest against sexual harassment leading up to International Women's Day on March 8, The Independent reported.
In a statement on its website Tuesday, the UK's Foreign and Commonwealth Office commented on the jailed activists.
"We remain deeply concerned by the ongoing detention of … the five women [who] were arrested prior to International Women’s Day for peacefully demonstrating against sexual harassment," the statement read. "We urge China to release all those detained for exercising their rights to freedom of expression, in line with China’s Constitution and international human rights commitments."
Here are the 5 activists still jailed in #China under false banner of “creating a disturbance.” #FreeBeijing20Five pic.twitter.com/mChsYaE1qU— Samantha Power (@AmbassadorPower) March 25, 2015
Last week, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, Samantha Power, also released a statement on the issue.
"If China is committed to advancing the rights of women, then it should be working to address the issues raised by these women’s rights activists — not silencing them," Power wrote. "The United States calls upon China to release immediately the Beijing+20 Five, and partner with them to help ensure that men and women everywhere are able to live free from harassment and violence."
International concern for the fate of the jailed protesters has increased, as reports suggest Wu was not given proper access to her hepatitis B medication, and Wang had a heart attack after strenuous interrogation sessions.
In addition to official calls for the prisoners' release, the hashtag #FreeBeijing20Five has gained traction on social media. The "20 Five" refers to the fact that the women were jailed just before the 20th anniversary of a United Nations-sponsored conference on women in Beijing.