The Goddess of Justice makes her way through the crowd onto the stage
at the Human Rights Torch Relay opening ceremony


On the evening of August 9, 2007, the Global Human Rights Torch Relay was launched on Syntagma Square, in front of the Hellenic Parliament buildings in Athens, Greece. Representatives of the Coalition to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong (CIPFG) from four delegations in Europe, Asia, North America and Australasia and other supporters from various organizations observed the grand occasion at the birthplace of the Olympic movement, one year ahead of the Beijing 2008 Olympics. The ceremony launched the year-long journey of the "Global Human Rights Torch Relay.

Requests to Chinese government:

1. Stop the persecution of Falun Gong immediately and release all practitioners incarcerated for their faith

2. Stop the persecution of friends and supporters and defense lawyers of Falun Gong practitioners (e.g. Gao Zhisheng, Li Hong)

3. Hold discussions with CIPFG to arrange details on the opening up of labour camps, prisons, hospitals and related secretive facilities for inspection by CIPFG independent investigator


The Olympic Charter:

“Olympism seeks to create a way of life based on ...respect for universal fundamental ethical principles...with a view to promoting a peaceful society concerned with the preservation of human dignity.”

“Safeguarding the dignity of the individual is a fundamental requirement of the Olympics.” (IOC Code of Ethics)

We hope the 2008 Olympic spirit will bring the Chinese people hope, tolerance, peace, friendship, freedom of belief, freedom of speech and an overall improvement in their basic human rights.

www.HumanRightsTorch.org
www.cipfg.org