OUT OF SIGHT, OUT OF RIGHTS: HOW FORCED DISAPPEARANCES OF ACTIVISTS THREATEN HUMAN RIGHTS IN CHINA

Abstract

In the shadows of China, forced disappearances work to silence opposition, and the practices are defended by Chinese authorities as necessary for the protection of national security. China’s ongoing suppression of dissenting opinions and human-rights advocacy mark an important precedent having consequences for the entire international community. The years of silence are detrimental to the mental and physical health of families and to the country’s social fabric. Many loved ones will never hear from their families again; and even if parents and siblings do, stories of torture and prison agony prevail. Relatives are also victims of stalking, leaving them with little security in fighting for the release of their loved ones. Beyond this damage to families and friends, disappearances serve as proof of growing authoritarianism, China’s unchecked suppression, and the growing tendency to ignore instances of human-rights violations. This paper reviews the mechanisms of forced disappearances, including tactics, legal implications, and the cost of advocacy for protecting human rights in China.