Fight for Human Rights in China and Asia: Key Movements

Introduction: History as a Living Process

There are numerous definitions of history adapted by different groups, yet they share a common feature: they refer to a period in the past. Among the definitions offered by WordNet (2011) is "the continuum of events occurring in succession leading from the past to the present and even into the future." This definition is particularly relevant here, as it spans from past events to present-day happenings around the world.

It is apparent that history is never static but is continually being made by people and the events that surround them. Among the most notable recent examples are events in Asia and China. In these two regions there have been numerous fights for rights over the past decade and into recent years, events worth examining for the immense contribution they have made to the historical development of human rights.

Uighur Rights and Self-Determination in China

One of the makers of history in China is Rebiya Kadeer, the most prominent leader from the western Chinese province of Xinjiang. She once advocated for a separate state but has since shifted her position, now pushing for self-determination rather than full autonomy. She heads the Uighur movement and has traveled internationally to strengthen support for the group (The Australian, 2009). The movement advocates for the illegalization of discrimination against Uighurs and for the protection of their religious and cultural rights, as well as the rights of similar groups.

Labor Rights and HIV/AIDS Advocacy in China

Lan Yimin is another immigrant Chinese activist who has become a face of the struggle for factory workers' rights in China. She pushes for fair working conditions and wages commensurate with the country's economic growth. She makes clear that the demands of workers in China are economic, not political, so that authorities do not misconstrue the movement's intentions (The China Post, 2010).

The United Nations has also been involved in advocacy for the rights of people living with HIV/AIDS in China. Many NGOs and HIV activists have worked to ensure the government does not discriminate against those infected, and they have pushed for due compensation for people who contracted the virus through contaminated blood transfusions (Human Rights Watch, 2010). Although the Chinese government contends that its newly launched human rights action plan has been successfully implemented and that human rights protections have broadly improved, NGOs and HIV activists maintain a different view and continue pressing for these rights as long as the lived experiences of those infected tell a different story.

Conclusion

There are numerous examples that give evidence of the fight for rights across China and the Asian continent. The array of individuals and groups engaged with human rights issues has helped China, Asia, and the entire world to keep in check the forces that may hinder the development of humanity and the ongoing making of history.

References

BBC News. (2009). Afghan women fight for rights. Retrieved March 7, 2011, from http://www.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8204597.stm

Human Rights Watch. (2010). China: Rights abuses belie success in AIDS fight. Retrieved March 7, 2011, from

IRIN. (2009). Bangladesh: Biharis fight for their rights. Retrieved March 7, 2011, from

The Australian. (2009). Uighurs must fight for rights within China. Retrieved March 7, 2011, from

The China Post. (2010). Workers are finding their voice to fight for rights in China. Retrieved March 7, 2011, from

UNESCO. (2011). Social and human sciences: Coalition of Cities against Discrimination in Asia and the Pacific. Retrieved from