{"id":18036,"date":"2008-03-05T10:48:06","date_gmt":"2008-03-05T17:48:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/chinadigitaltimes.net\/2008\/03\/feathers-fly-as-international-womens-day-approaches\/"},"modified":"2008-03-05T10:48:06","modified_gmt":"2008-03-05T17:48:06","slug":"feathers-fly-as-international-womens-day-approaches","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/chinadigitaltimes.net\/2008\/03\/feathers-fly-as-international-womens-day-approaches\/","title":{"rendered":"Feathers Fly as International Women’s Day Approaches"},"content":{"rendered":"
Women in China may be celebrating early with pillow fights<\/a>, songs<\/a> and ceremonies<\/a>, but human rights advocates hope the Mar. 8 event <\/a>will draw more sober attention to three imprisoned women activists.<\/p>\n According to the Feminist Peace Network<\/a>:<\/p>\n <\/a> \u201cMao Hengfeng<\/a> petitioned for redress of coercive and abusive implementation of China\u2019s Family Planning Policy. Shuang Shuying<\/a> petitioned for official intervention in cases of forced eviction. Ye Jinghuan petitioned for a government investigation into an investment scam that cost Chinese workers tens of millions of dollars from their life savings.<\/p>\n The response to their exercise of the right to petition, protected under Chinese law: all three are in detention and subject to ongoing abusive treatment, including solitary confinement, physical punishment, and denial of medical treatment.<\/p>\n \u201cIn the final lead up to the Olympics, instead of cracking down on and rounding up petitioners and other activists, the Chinese authorities need to constructively address the serious problems petitioners are raising,\u201d said Human Rights in China <\/a>Executive Director Sharon Hom.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Each month in 2008, as part of its Olympics Campaign, HRIC features a person imprisoned for “exercising his\/her human rights.” This month’s petition<\/a> focus is on Mao Hengfeng.<\/p>\n Photos: Xinhua, via CRIENGLISH.com<\/p>\n <\/a>
\nWomen enjoy themselves during a pillow fight at a theme park in Changsha on Mar. 4 to welcome International Women’s Day on Mar. 8.<\/p>\n