As the Olympic flame passes through Canberra, Amnesty International calls on the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and world leaders to take a stronger stance with the Chinese authorities on human rights abuses.

Amnesty International is also urging corporate sponsors of the Olympics to raise their concerns over China's human rights situation with both the Chinese authorities and the IOC.

"A failure to speak out, particularly when Chinese activists have been muzzled in violation of their human rights, would effectively constitute a 'conspiracy of silence' which undermines the principles and spirit of the Olympic Charter," said Amnesty International Australia's China Campaign Coordinator, Sophie Peer.

During their campaign to secure the 2008 Olympics, the Chinese authorities declared that the human rights situation in China would improve if Beijing were chosen to host the Olympics.

Amnesty International volunteers will be present along the Canberra relay route to demonstrate peacefully in a bid to raise awareness about the organisation's human rights concerns in China.

Amnesty International calls on the Chinese authorities to:

  • give immediate access to Tibet and surrounding areas to UN investigators and other independent observers;
  • cease arbitrary detention, intimidation and harassment of activists;
  • end punitive administrative detention;
  • allow full and free reporting across the whole of China for all journalists;
  • cease Internet censorship;
  • free all prisoners of conscience;
  • reduce the number of capital crimes as a step towards abolition.

"The Olympic Games have so far failed to act as a catalyst for reform. Unless urgent steps are taken to redress the situation, a positive human rights legacy for the Beijing Olympics looks increasingly beyond reach," said Sophie Peer.

"Time is running out for the Chinese authorities to steer a new course prior to the Olympics based on respect for fundamental human rights – in particular rights to freedom of expression, movement and liberty and security of the person," said Sophie Peer.

Amnesty International believes a strong public stance from the IOC and world leaders is essential to minimise the risk that serious human rights abuses will tarnish the human rights legacy of the Beijing Olympics for China, the Olympic movement more broadly, and all those with a stake in the success of the Games.