Grassroots Advocacy in China: Year in Review

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By Mike Frick

After a year of secretive negotiations and public pomp and drama, China unveiled its new leaders. But alongside the official narrative of this once-a-decade transition, Chinese grassroots organizations and individual citizens took part in their own smaller-scale dramas when they stood up, individually and collectively, to demand a more equal society. The year 2012 saw creative – sometimes daring – examples of advocacy in the field of health and human rights.

Here is a look-back at some notable campaigns led by activists who demanded equal rights for LGBT people, women, male and female sex workers, disabled people, and people living with hepatitis or HIV/AIDS.

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Sign On to End Violence Against Sex Workers in China

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A coalition of Chinese sex worker organizations is circulating a sign-on letter to call for an end to violence against sex workers.

Brief summary in English: December 17th is “International End Violence Against Sex Workers Day.” The letter says that violence against sex workers in China continues, and gives examples, including:

  • Lack of protection of personal safety for female, male and transgender sex workers, citing documented cases of 218 incidents, including 8 in which sex workers were killed.
  • Fear of seeking help when they encounter violence. Because they fear being jailed for criminal behavior, sex workers are often reluctant to use the law to protect their rights.

The signers call for more attention to safety of sex workers and an end to violence. Sex workers are Chinese citizens and should receive equal treatment in protection of their personal safety and property. They also call for an end to social stigma, discrimination and verbal abuse of sex workers.

Ten Chinese sex worker organizations have signed their names and the China Sex Worker Organization Network has also endorsed it. Please email Guo Ziyang at ouyanghuijie@sina.com to add your organization’s name to the letter.

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Support China’s First AIDS Life Cycle Rider

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Guo Ziyang, director of Beijing NGO  Zuo You, writes to say that he is raising money for his participation in the AIDS Life Cycle, an annual seven day bike ride from San Francisco to Los Angeles that raises money for HIV/AIDS programs. Founded in 2011, Zuo You works with male sex workers in Beijing on prevention of HIV and intimate partner violence.  In spring 2012, Asia Catalyst helped Zuo You develop a strategic plan, volunteer management system and community engagement plan. Previously, Ziyang participated in a series of workshops Asia Catalyst offered through the China Sex Worker Organization Network.  

This is the first time someone from China will participate in the ride and, to mark the occasion, 100% of funds donated to Ziyang will be used in China, where he plans to create an emergency fund for young gay men living with HIV. You can help Ziyang reach his $5,000 fundraising goal by donating here.

2012 Year in Review: A Message from the Executive Director’s Desk

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We’re writing to tell you about the exciting work Asia Catalyst is doing with grassroots health groups in Asia, and to ask you to continue your support.

In 2012, Asia Catalyst marked five years of training small grassroots groups led by people directly affected by HIV/AIDS, hepatitis and disabilities. Most of our partners are in China, where authorities restrict community activism, but through their persistence and commitment, here is what we accomplished together this year:
  • Trained the NGO Leadership Cohort, a group of ten health rights groups who get intensive training in nonprofit management and advocacy over the course of one year. This year’s cohort participants included a courageous former teacher living with HIV/AIDS who runs the only group for people with HIV in her hometown, an organization of sex workers doing ground-breaking outreach and organizing in their community, as well as other community leaders from around the country. Three of our cohort participants will become assistant trainers for the 2013 cohort, and will “pay it forward” by training other groups. As the program scales up, it creates a new generation of professional nonprofit leaders.
  • Published three new reports on health and human rights China. Our joint report with Korekata AIDS Law Center on China’s HIV blood disaster was the first major human rights report researched and co-written by a domestic Chinese organization. It was endorsed by UNAIDS and the Shenzhen Center for Disease Control, and our recommendations were taken up by a government advisory working group.
  • Trained dozens of East and Southeast Asian activists in human rights documentation and advocacy. We trained forty activists from Africa, Asia and the US at a workshop in Washington DC, and gave intensive training to a new coalition of 12 leading Chinese and Thai gender and sexuality activists at a workshop in Thailand.
We have already published two volumes of our Know It, Prove It, Change It human rights curriculum in Chinese, English and Thai on our website. In 2014, the third and final volume will be published and available online in English, Thai, Chinese, and Burmese! We’ll then use it to jump-start an exciting new regional human rights training program.
  • Showcased Chinese activists at the International AIDS Conference in Washington, DC. We provided scholarships, training and round-the clock translation as well as hosting workshops, roundtables, and events to ensure that Chinese civil society had a voice at this important meeting.
In 2013 we will transition to new leadership, when our founder, Sara Davis, moves on to a senior position at the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria, and Acting Executive Director Andrea Worden takes the helm.
Please make a tax-deductible contribution today at https://www.asiacatalyst.org/get_involved/, or mail a check to Asia Catalyst, 39 West 32nd St, Suite 1602, New York, NY 10001.
Thank you for your support!
Sincerely,
Sara L.M. Davis, Ph.D.                                    Andrea Worden
Founder                                               Acting Executive Director