Coinciding with World Press Freedom Day on May 3, a photo exhibit of human rights abuse in China organized by a media freedom supporter, Laogai Research Foundation founder Harry Wu, is currently on display in New York’s Capitol. Harry Wu serves on the Advisory Board of the Committee for U.S. International Broadcasting (CUSIB – cusig.org), an independent and nonpartisan organization promoting media freedom worldwide.
Freedom House Annual Censorship Report: China Among World’s Least Free
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Laogai Research Foundation Photo Exhibition On Display in New York’s Capital
The Laogai Research Foundation Photo Exhibit has opened in the Concourse Level Entrance to the Legislative Office Building in Albany, New York, and will be on display until Friday, May 10. It is a powerful testimony of the most severe human suffering that has occurred and still occurs in China.
Harry Wu, Founder and Executive Director of the Lagoai Research Foundation, survived 19 years in China’s Laogai. The word Laogai means “reform through labor” and refers to the most extensive system of forced labor camps in the world. The Laogai Research Foundation works to document and publicize other systemic human rights violations in China, including executions, the harvesting of organs from executed prisoners, the coercive enforcement of China’s “one-child” population control policy, Internet censorship and surveillance, and the persecution of Roman Catholics, other Christians, Uyghurs, and Tibetans.
The issues surrounding the Photo Exhibit are certainly relevant to New York State. Many Laogai survivors live in New York, and as New York State invests in companies in China, they can address human rights violations and encourage human rights reform.
This photo exhibit is sponsored by New York State Senators Ruben Diaz (D-Bronx) and Senator Martin J. Golden (R-Brooklyn).
Harry Wu is expected to be in Albany for the event.