UN experts condemn China’s denial of medical treatment to human rights defender News
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UN experts condemn China’s denial of medical treatment to human rights defender

UN human rights experts expressed concerns on Thursday over the repeated denial of adequate medical treatment for Yang Li, a Chinese human rights defender.

In the statement, the experts warned, “The arrest and indictment of Yang Li appear to represent an effort by the authorities to prevent her from peacefully exercising her rights to seek redress for legitimate grievances. This harassment is compounded by the fact that it was coupled with preventing her from accessing medical treatment.”

In response to this repeated denial of medical treatment, the UN experts urge Chinese authorities to immediately cease the harassment and intimidation of Li and her family and allow her full access to medical treatment.

Li is a human rights defender from Jintan, China, who has long advocated for housing and Land Rights. She has spoken out on issues, such as illegal land expropriation, forced eviction, and demolition, raising awareness of human rights issues, including the displacement of the local population and the lack of compensation for those affected.

Most recently, Li was detained by police on 18 January 2026 while attempting to travel to Beijing for urgent medical care. Li and her father were intercepted and forcibly transferred to the Jintan Law Enforcement Case Management Centre by plainclothes police officers immediately after leaving their home. This incident occurred approximately five days after her previous release from detention, having been held from 11 January 2026 to 13 January 2026.

Her access to medical treatment has been denied since her detention in 2025. Although she was diagnosed with a severe condition requiring specialized treatment in August 2025, her request for hospital care was reportedly refused by detention centre authorities. Even after her release on 30 December 2025, her movement remained restricted, and she was not transferred to the hospital.

Front Line Defenders (FLD), an international human rights organization protecting human rights defenders at risk, argues that Li has been targeted for her human rights work and has faced reprisals for several years. FLD stated that the denial of medical care appears to form part of a “pattern of retaliation” against her for exposing abuses related to land rights and for her continued pursuit of justice through lawful means.

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