Under pressure from Human Rights Watch and colleague organizations, the Chinese government on February 17 agreed to lift its house arrest of prominent HIV/AIDS doctor Gao Yaojie. Dr. Gao had been detained for weeks to prevent her from obtaining a visa to…

AIDS activist Wan Yanhai, who was detained by the Chinese authorities on August 24, was released on September 20, following a concerted outcry that included three formal statements by Human Rights Watch.

In 1999, the Chinese government banned Falungong, a variant of an ancient exercise and meditation system. The government labeled Falungong an "evil cult" and began an aggressive and often violent campaign against its practitioners which continues…