✊ #BoycottBeijing

Sign our petition calling for an EU-wide diplomatic boycott!

China stands accused of the vilest atrocities of our times.

Mass detentions in internment camps, forced sterilisations and separating children from parents for “re-education” have forced the free world to condemn the crimes against humanity and genocide against the Uyghur community.  

Democratic Taiwan is facing increased pressure and military flypasts from China, and European countries such as Lithuania that show solidarity are being threatened with economic and diplomatic sanctions. In Hong Kong, protests have been criminalised, human rights restricted, and freedom of speech and media face increasing pressure.

Activists, feminists and even world-renowned figures from the world of sport, such as tennis star Peng Shuai, have disappeared after daring to stand up for human rights.

Enough is enough! This cannot go on.

The promotion of and respect for human rights, democracy and the rule of law should remain at the centre of EU relationship with China.

Any political participation in the Winter Olympics amounts to political support for human rights abuse.

As liberals, we cannot turn a blind eye to industrial scale human rights abuses therefore we call all EU Member States to initiate an EU-wide diplomatic boycott of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics and associated events. Our representatives in the European Parliament played a key role in adopting a resolution calling on the European Commission, Council and EU Member States to decline invitations for government representatives and diplomats to attend the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, unless the Chinese Government demonstrates a verifiable improvement of the human rights situation in Hong Kong, the Xinjiang Uyghur Region, Tibet, Inner Mongolia and elsewhere in China.

So far, Belgium, Denmark, Estonia and Lithuania have ommitted to a diplomatic boycott, while Austria, Slovenia, Sweden, and the Netherlands will also not be sending any representatives, citing COVID-19 restrictions. Beyond the EU, the United States, Australia, United Kingdom and Canada have joined the boycott.