Press Release
Smith, Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission & Commission on China to Hold Joint HearingChina, Genocide and the OlympicsRep. Christopher H. Smith, Co-Chairman of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission (TLHRC), in conjunction with the Congressional-Executive Commission on China, will hold a joint hearing on Tuesday, May 18 to examine the implications of holding the XXIV Winter Olympiad in the People’s Republic of China (PRC) in light of the country’s egregious human rights record. In February 2022, the People’s Republic of China is scheduled to host the XXIV Winter Olympiad. But the PRC’s highly repressive human rights policies, including practices the State Department deems crimes against humanity and genocide against ethnic minorities and the crushing of the democratic opposition in Hong Kong, have called into question the legitimacy of holding the games in China. The hearing will examine China’s human rights practices against the ideals of the Olympics and explore possible ways to leverage the Olympics to improve China’s human rights practices. Opening statements, which will begin at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, May 18, 2021, can be viewed virtually via Cisco WebEx. Also hosting the bipartisan joint hearing is Rep. James P. McGovern (D-MA), Co-Chair of the TLHRC, and Sen. Jeffrey A. Merkley (D-OR) Chair, CECC. Smith is a former Chairman of the CECC, and current ranking House Member.
Witnesses may be added. Click here for additional information. ###
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