More than 3,000 China human rights postcards will be delivered to new Taoiseach Brian Cowen this morning as part of an Amnesty International campaign.
The signed postcards will be delivered to Mr Cowen at Government Buildings by dozens of school students from around Ireland.
The postcards, part of Amnesty’s Human Rights For China campaign, call on the Taoiseach to support action on China’s human rights ahead of the Beijing Games.
Amnesty International Irish section executive director Colm O’Gorman said: “China made very straightforward commitments to improve its human rights record when it was awarded the Olympic Games in 2001. However since the situation for many human rights activists has worsened.
“Human rights defenders have been arrested and imprisoned. Many of them have been beaten or physically abused. Use of the ‘re-education through labour’ programme . . . has accelerated with people identified by the authorities as potential dissidents or undesirables being incarcerated. China continues to be the world leader in executions.
“The world is watching to see if the legacy of the XXIX Olympiad for the people of China will be a new beginning for human rights. The people of Ireland are looking to Mr Cowen to play his part in making that a reality,” Mr O’Gorman added.
