Charter 08

2008 manifesto signed by Chinese intellectuals and human rights activists

Charter 08 is a manifesto (a public declaration of your beliefs) initially signed by over 350 Chinese intellectuals and human rights activists to promote political reform and democratization in the People's Republic of China.[1] It was published on 10 December 2008, the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, using a similar name and style from the anti-Soviet Charter 77 issued by dissidents in Czechoslovakia.[2] Since its release, more than 8,100 people inside and outside of China have signed the charter.[3][4]

One of the authors of Charter '08, Liu Xiaobo, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2010. He died of liver cancer in July 2017 while under medical leave during his prison sentence.[5]

References change

  1. "Over 5000 people have signed the Charter 08 (《零八宪章》签名已超过5000人)". Boxun. 17 December 2008. Retrieved 2008-12-15.
  2. Spencer, Richard (9 December 2008). "Chinese dissidents emulate anti-Soviet heroes with Charter 08". Telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 2008-12-10.
  3. Why China's leadership should talk to the Charter 08 movement, Washington Post, January 30, 2009.
  4. Small green shoots of rebellion among ordinary Chinese, Irish Times, January 31, 2009.
  5. "Liu Xiaobo: Prominent China dissident dies". BBC. 13 July 2017.