The Olympic torch is illuminating China’s human rights abuses and leading many around the world to speak out. Historically, the Olympics have been credited with
bringing about democratic change in nations such as South Korea. China expects to dictate how it interacts with the outside world. But will pressure from human rights organizations, western governments and celebrities in the run-up to the 2008 Games push Chinese leaders to begin permanent human rights reforms?

Minky Worden, media director for Human Rights Watch, will examine the connection between 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing and international pressure on China
to reform.

Worden will discuss:

• What human rights promises China made when it was awarded the Olympic Games and how the Olympic Committee has failed to enforce them.

• How the Olympics in Beijing have actually caused more abuses, including forced evictions, murders, repression, labor rights violations and persecutions.

• Many public leaders, including President Bush, are planning to attend the Olympic Games in Beijing. What sort of signal does this send?

• Why China allows written criticism, yet keeps critics under house arrest.

• What will happen after the Olympics? Will lasting human rights changes occur?

CREDENTIALS: Minky Worden is the media director of Human Rights Watch which monitors crises, wars, human rights abuses, and political developments in more than 70 countries worldwide. Worden lived and worked in Hong Kong as an adviser to the Democratic Party chairman. She is the co-editor of Torture and the editor of her new book CHINA’S GREAT LEAP: The Beijing Games and Olympian Human Rights Challenges.

AVAILABILITY: New York, nationwide by arrangement and via telephone
CONTACT: Crystal Yakacki, (212) 226-8760 (NY); crystal@sevenstories.com