As a communist regime, ‘the political ideology of the CCP has traditionally been hostile to religion, but its policy since the late 1970s has been to tolerate religious belief and expression among non-Party members so long as it does not threaten the CCP’s monopoly of authority or the functions of the state.’

International bodies such as the U.N. Working Group on Arbitrary Detention have found that the Chinese constitution ‘prohibits religious activities that impair public order, health, or education and proscribes “foreign domination” of religious bodies and religious affairs.’

Thus, ‘the freedom to express one’s religion through activities is not guaranteed by the constitution.’

While China has international legal obligations that should protect the religious freedom of its citizens, ‘China’s policies and practices are in direct violation of these norms.’ Foremost and primordial of these internationally agreed legal obligations is the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), an international instrument [of and in] all U.N. member states that is a ‘customary international law that guarantees persons the right to manifest their religion “either alone or in community with others and in public or private, the right to be free from discrimination based upon religion, and the right to be free from unnecessary and arbitrary government regulation in exercising religious beliefs.’

China became a member of the United Nations on 24 October, 1945.

It is clear that China’s pressure and assault on Tibetan Buddhists and Muslim Uighurs are a manifestation of violating international legal obligations. But even if anybody reminds China of its signed cooperation and agreement, would it actually heed any advice? After all, the political ideology of the CCP and religion do not and will never mix.

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Via Human Rights Watch

December 10 of every year commemorates the signing of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The day is also a reminder that atrocities committed by man against man have not abated, in spite of the Declaration. It’s been 60 years but man-made oppression has not been reduced.

Tribal communities and indigenous peoples remain unrecognized because there really have been no concrete means to bridge them to mainstream societies. Refugees remain entities who do not enjoy the full benefits given by the state, by either their host countries or countries of origin. Torture remains a viable police and military tactic that has proven to be an imperative functional tool in the processing of intelligence. Tyrants continue to disguise themselves with the cloak of democracy. Authoritarian states rule by the power of the gunpowder. Radical Islamists still recruit child soldiers because the definition of child in the Qur’an is a person 10 years old and below. Anyone older than 10 is no longer a child and can, therefore, be obliged to fight in their armed jihad.

Amnesty International recently launched its public awareness print campaign entitled “Cake.” It is a painful reminder that the commemoration of the signing of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights does not give the opportunity to celebrate. The tagline says its all: “You can do more than celebrate.” Since there is no reason to honor the day with rejoicing, what we can do is fight human rights abuses and violations instead. DDB Budapest executed the social advertising print campaign.

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Via COLORIBUS