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Monthly Event Reports

February 2024 | New proposed national security laws raises concerns
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Hong Kong’s government is preparing to introduce a new national security bill (Article 3). Critics note that the bill imposes more severe punishments for a broader range of crimes, including potential life imprisonment for treason, extending the scope of the 2020 National Security Law and intensifying the crackdown on civil society, independent media, and the pro-democracy movement in Hong Kong. The legislation also aims to enhance oversight of foreign political entities and organizations in Hong Kong, prohibiting “external interference.” Human rights experts have widely criticized the bill for its broad and vague provisions, which they argue could significantly restrict civil liberties. The Hong Kong government contends that the law will only affect “a small minority of disloyal residents,” citing one month-long public consultations that allegedly showed popular support for the legislation – a claim disputed by rights experts.

December 2023 | Hong Kong’s local district election results in record low voter turnout

On 10 December, Hong Kong held its first district council elections since undergoing an electoral overhaul guided by Beijing earlier this year. The overhaul effectively excluded pro-democracy candidates and screened candidates based on the criterion of “patriotism.” Simultaneously, the number of seats democratically chosen by the public was reduced from 452 to 88. The local election resulted in an unprecedented low voter turnout of 27.5 per cent, in stark contrast to the 71.2 per cent turnout in the previous district election held in 2019, which saw opposition candidates winning by a landslide. The majority of seats this year were won by candidates aligned with pro-Beijing interests. Foreign observers and the European parliament characterized the election as “neither free nor fair” due to the exclusion of opposition representation.

November 2023 | Expanding crackdown on mosques

Human Rights Watch released a report on 22 November alleging that Chinese authorities have expanded their campaign of closing down mosques beyond the Xinjiang region, where the country has been criticized for persecuting Muslim minorities. Mosque closures have occurred in the Ningxia and Gansu provinces, which house the largest Muslim populations after Xinjiang. While the Chinese government claims it is “consolidating” mosques, rights advocates have criticized that the “closure, destruction and repurposing of mosques is part of a systematic effort to curb the practice of Islam in China” while violating freedom of religion.

October 2023 | Forced mass repatriation of North Korean escapees

On 9 October, rights groups estimate Chinese authorities forcibly repatriated more than 500 North Koreans, most of whom were women. Experts, including the United Nations Special Rapporteur on human rights in North Korea, have expressed concern that those forcibly returned may be subjected to torture, forced labour, inhumane treatment, and possibly execution and enforced disappearance. UN authorities underscored the importance of applying the non-refoulement principle universally, irrespective of migratory status, highlighting its critical role in international law, including the Convention against Torture and the 1951 Refugee Convention, of which China is a party. The Chinese government, which often categorizes defectors as "economic migrants," has denied allegations of repatriation, maintaining that it adheres to international law in handling illegal entrants. Human Rights Watch previously confirmed that on 29 August 2023, 80 North Koreans were forcibly repatriated, along with 40 others on 18 September, and nearly 50 North Koreans in July 2021 - having increased since Pyongyang began loosening its COVID-19 border restrictions in recent months.

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GSoD Indices Data 2013-2022

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Basic Information

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Population Tooltip
1 412 360 000
System of government
Communist Party-Led State
Head of government
Premier Li Keqiang (since 2013)
Head of government party
Chinese Communist Party (CCP)
Electoral system for lower or single chamber
No direct elections
Women in lower or single chamber
24.9%
Women in upper chamber
Not applicable
Last legislative election
2018 (Indirect)
Head of state
President Xi Jinping
Selection process for head of state
Indirect election (assembly)
Latest Universal Periodic Review (UPR) date
06/11/2018
Latest Universal Periodic Review (UPR) percentage of recommendations supported
82.08%
Population Tooltip
1 412 360 000
System of government
Communist Party-Led State
Head of government
Premier Li Keqiang (since 2013)
Head of government party
Chinese Communist Party (CCP)
Electoral system for lower or single chamber
No direct elections
Women in lower or single chamber
24.9%
Women in upper chamber
Not applicable
Last legislative election
2018 (Indirect)
Head of state
President Xi Jinping
Selection process for head of state
Indirect election (assembly)
Latest Universal Periodic Review (UPR) date
06/11/2018
Latest Universal Periodic Review (UPR) percentage of recommendations supported
82.08%
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Human Rights Treaties

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State Party State party
Signatory Signatory
No Action No action
United Nations Human Right Treaties
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
Signatory
International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
State Party
International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination
State Party
Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women
State Party
Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment or Punishment
State Party
Convention on the Rights of the Child
State Party
International Convention on Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families
No Action
International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance 
No Action
International Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
State Party
International Labour Organisation Treaties
Forced Labour Convention
No Action
Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention
No Action
Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining Convention
No Action
Equal Remuneration Convention
State Party
Abolition of Forced Labour Convention
No Action
Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention
State Party
Convention concerning Minimum Age for Admission to Employment
State Party
Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention
State Party
in
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Performance by category over the last 6 months

Representation neutral Representation
Sep 2023
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb 2024
Representation neutral Rights
Sep 2023
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb 2024
Representation neutral Rule of law
Sep 2023
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb 2024
Representation neutral Participation
Sep 2023
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb 2024

Global State of Democracy Indices

Hover over the trend lines to see the exact data points across the years

Explore the indices
Representation
Representation
0
/1
high 0.7-1.0
mid 0.4-0.7
low 0.0-0.4
Rights
Rights
0
/1
high 0.7-1.0
mid 0.4-0.7
low 0.0-0.4
Rule of Law
Rule of Law
0
/1
high 0.7-1.0
mid 0.4-0.7
low 0.0-0.4
Participation
Participation
0
/1
high 0.7-1.0
mid 0.4-0.7
low 0.0-0.4
Annual value

Factors of Democratic Performance Over Time

Use the slider below to see how democratic performance has changed over time

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