Chinese authorities have not only broken their promise to improve the country's human rights, but they've also betrayed the core values of the Olympics.

That's what we say in our new report out today – 10 days before the opening of the Games.

The report weighs up China's performance in four areas:

  • the persecution of human rights activists
  • detention without trial
  • censorship
  • the death penalty.

And we conclude that in most of these areas human rights have continued to get worse, not better, in the led-up to the Olympics.

Stability and harmony

As China has prepared for the Olympics, authorities have locked up, put under house arrest, and forcibly removed people they think may threaten the image of 'stability' and 'harmony' they want to present to the world.

Chinese authorities have lost sight of the promises they made when they were granted the Games seven years ago.

World leaders attending the Olympics need to publicly speak out about human rights in China and in support of individual Chinese human rights activists. Not doing so will send the message that it is acceptable for a government to host the Olympics in an atmosphere of repression and persecution.

Wider Olympic principles

Not long ago, Jacques Rogge, the International Olympic Committee's (IOC) president, claimed the IOC's quiet diplomacy had led to several human rights reforms, including the new regulations for foreign media.

It's great the IOC recognises its role in human rights, but given what is happened we are surprised at their confidence that foreign media will be able to report freely and that there will be no Internet censorship.

And, the IOC must speak out when Chinese authorities violate the wider Olympic principles.

For more information check out the report or our press release.