CONVICTING food safety whistleblowers in China has a ‘chilling effect’ on other activists, a UN envoy said on Thursday, after the November jailing of a man who campaigned for victims of a tainted milk scandal.
Olivier De Schutter, the UN special rapporteur on the right to food, said he had raised the case of Zhao Lianhai, whose child was one of 300,000 made ill in the 2008 scandal that killed at least six infants, with Chinese officials.
Zhao, who was arrested last December after he rallied other victims in the scandal to protest and demand compensation, was sentenced to two and a half years in prison last month. He has reportedly applied for medical parole.
Mr De Schutter, who was wrapping up a nine-day visit to China, said the conviction of individuals alerting the public to food safety risks ‘creates a chilling effect’ on others who would consider reporting violations of the law.
‘I think the freedom of expression, and freedom of association such as those that Mr Zhao was exercising are key to protecting social and economic rights such as right to food,’ Mr De Schutter told reporters.
‘Without information flowing freely, without transparency, without the possibility to hold governments accountable, there will be simply less attention paid to the needs of the population and there will be more impunity.’ ‘For this reason, I think a situation such as that of Mr Zhao is a source of concern to all those who defend the right to food,’ he said.
Howdy, This post can’t be penned any better! Looking through this write-up reminds me of my ex girlfriend. She frequently kept talking concerning this. I may forward this page to her. I will be convinced she’s going to enjoy a good read. Kudos for discussing!