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China bars AIDS activist from traveling despite talk of ending discrimination China bars AIDS activist from traveling despite talk of ending discrimination
(about 2 hours later)
BEIJING — A female Chinese AIDS activist said Thursday that she has been forced to cancel a trip to attend a United Nations conference on discrimination against women after authorities seized her passport. BEIJING — A Chinese AIDS activist said Thursday that she has been forced to cancel a trip to attend a United Nations conference on discrimination against women after authorities seized her passport.
On the face of it, the travel ban might seem puzzling. China’s first lady, Peng Liyuan, is a World Health Organization goodwill ambassador for HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis, and she told a national conference on the subject in Beijing only this week that she wanted to promote efforts to end discrimination against those who have the disease and to ensure social justice. On the face of it, the travel ban might seem puzzling. China’s first lady, Peng Liyuan, is a World Health Organization goodwill ambassador for HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis, and she told a national conference on the subject in Beijing only this week that she wanted to promote efforts to end discrimination against those who have the disease and to ensure social justice.
There is no apparent reason to suppose that Peng was insincere in expressing that desire, analysts say. So why would China ban a woman with AIDS from talking about that very subject?There is no apparent reason to suppose that Peng was insincere in expressing that desire, analysts say. So why would China ban a woman with AIDS from talking about that very subject?
The activist, 47-year-old Wang Qiuyun, had been due to present a report to a U.N. committee examining China’s performance under the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women. But she said local authorities in her native Henan province seized her passport this week, visited her home several times and told her not to leave the city of Hebi, where she lives. Officials also told her to inform her hosts that she was “too sick to attend” the meeting, she said. The activist, 47-year-old Wang Qiuyun, had been due to present a report to a U.N. committee examining China’s performance under the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women. But she said local authorities in her native Henan province seized her passport this week, visited her home several times and told her not to leave the city of Hebi, where she lives. Officials also told her to inform her hosts that she was “too sick to attend” the meeting, she said.
“I don’t know why this happened,” Wang said in a telephone interview. “I’ve explained to the police and other officials many times that I was just going to talk about helping women with AIDS, and about children who suffer discrimination because of their parents’ HIV status.”“I don’t know why this happened,” Wang said in a telephone interview. “I’ve explained to the police and other officials many times that I was just going to talk about helping women with AIDS, and about children who suffer discrimination because of their parents’ HIV status.”
The report she was due to present, on behalf of the nongovernmental group Women’s Network Against HIV/AIDS China (WNAC), concludes that the HIV epidemic among women in China is on the rise, partly because of a lack of awareness and low condom use among sex workers.The report she was due to present, on behalf of the nongovernmental group Women’s Network Against HIV/AIDS China (WNAC), concludes that the HIV epidemic among women in China is on the rise, partly because of a lack of awareness and low condom use among sex workers.
It also argues that women face “serious discrimination and humiliation” in health care, employment and education, and that strong laws against prostitution — including police regulations that equate condom possession with prostitution — were only pushing sex workers not to carry condoms.It also argues that women face “serious discrimination and humiliation” in health care, employment and education, and that strong laws against prostitution — including police regulations that equate condom possession with prostitution — were only pushing sex workers not to carry condoms.
China ratified the U.N. convention in 1980 and has a responsibility to report its progress in battling discrimination to the committee — a reporting process that is supposed to include the participation of civil society groups. China ratified the U.N. convention in 1980 and is required to report its progress in battling discrimination to the committee — a reporting process that is supposed to include the participation of civil society groups.
But even as Peng, the first lady, talks of ending discrimination, her husband, President Xi Jinping, has overseen a crackdown on the activities of nongovernmental organizations in China, especially those with foreign funding or foreign ties. Freedom of expression is also under attack here, and China is deeply uncomfortable with civil society groups offering critical commentary about the country, especially for international audiences.But even as Peng, the first lady, talks of ending discrimination, her husband, President Xi Jinping, has overseen a crackdown on the activities of nongovernmental organizations in China, especially those with foreign funding or foreign ties. Freedom of expression is also under attack here, and China is deeply uncomfortable with civil society groups offering critical commentary about the country, especially for international audiences.
The authorities in Henan are also particularly sensitive to criticism. The province was at the center of a major health scandal in the 1990s, when thousands of people contracted HIV through unscreened blood transfusions. Local activists accused authorities of covering up the true extent of the problem and denying people adequate compensation.The authorities in Henan are also particularly sensitive to criticism. The province was at the center of a major health scandal in the 1990s, when thousands of people contracted HIV through unscreened blood transfusions. Local activists accused authorities of covering up the true extent of the problem and denying people adequate compensation.
Wang said she became an activist in 2005 after realizing she had contracted HIV. Treatment costs are high, and hospitals are often unwilling to treat her for other diseases, she said. Her son was forced to transfer to a school far away from home after suffering discrimination when her HIV status became known, she added. Wang said she became an activist in 2005 after realizing she had contracted HIV. Treatment costs are high, she said, and hospitals are often unwilling to treat her for other diseases. Her son was forced to transfer to a school far away from home after suffering discrimination when her HIV status became known, she added.
“But I am one of the lucky ones compared with many women I am helping,” Wang said. “Many frequently suffer from domestic violence because of the disease.”“But I am one of the lucky ones compared with many women I am helping,” Wang said. “Many frequently suffer from domestic violence because of the disease.”
She has tried many times to communicate with the government but has been unsuccessful, she said. “They’d rather make efforts to stop NGOs from organizing activities than communicating with them.”She has tried many times to communicate with the government but has been unsuccessful, she said. “They’d rather make efforts to stop NGOs from organizing activities than communicating with them.”
Yuan Wenli, secretary general of WNAC, said she was shocked by the travel ban but suspected it was because officials feared that Wang would speak out openly. Yuan Wenli, secretary general of WNAC, said she was shocked by the travel ban but suspected it was tied to officials’ fear that Wang would speak out openly.
“Patients from Henan are different,” she said. “They don’t feel ashamed about having the disease because they blame it on the government, and they have long been fighting for their rights. That might be the trigger for what happened to Wang — they are afraid she would complain to foreigners.”“Patients from Henan are different,” she said. “They don’t feel ashamed about having the disease because they blame it on the government, and they have long been fighting for their rights. That might be the trigger for what happened to Wang — they are afraid she would complain to foreigners.”
Authorities in Henan could not be reached for comment.Authorities in Henan could not be reached for comment.
Xu Jing contributed to this report.Xu Jing contributed to this report.