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About the Incorporating Responsibility 2008 (IR2008) Campaign In 2003, Human Rights in China (HRIC) launched its Olympics Campaign, Incorporating Responsibility 2008 (IR2008), to leverage international and domestic windows of opportunity promoting equitable development, freedom of expression, and other human rights in China. The campaign works to expand independent civil space in China by developing concrete recommendations and engaging corporate leaders, professionals, government actors, scholars, activists, and the media to support domestic activists and reforms. Through research, advocacy and media work, HRIC focuses on monitoring human rights progress and promoting compliance with Beijing's Olympics promises and other international human rights obligations in the lead-up to and after the Olympics in 2008. A Message from the Co-Chairs [Note: This message originally appeared in HRIC's 2008 calendar, Human Rights in 2008: China's Olympic Year.] “The year 2008 should be a banner year for advancing human rights in China, judging from commitments made by the Beijing Organizing Committee.” The year 2008 should be a banner year for advancing human rights in China, judging from commitments made by the Beijing Organizing Committee to encourage green consumption, to maximize national economic development, to adhere to principles of openness and fairness in government work, and to promote opening-up to the world during the Olympic year. Through our campaign Incorporating Responsibility 2008: Playing for the Future, Human Rights in China (HRIC) will promote compliance with both Olympics promises and international human rights obligations undertaken by the Chinese government towards the Olympics and beyond. We invite you to join in our effort. “Each month highlights one person who has been imprisoned for trying to exercise his or her human rights.” This calendar contains the names of over three hundred human rights defenders and prisoners of conscience, listed on the anniversaries of their detentions, who are scheduled to remain in detention throughout 2008. Each month highlights one person who has been imprisoned for trying to exercise his or her human rights. They include religious practitioners, ethnic minorities, lawyers, journalists, activists, workers, and writers. We urge the Chinese government to free all these prisoners—and others whose names we do not have—in time to welcome a truly rights-friendly Olympics. “HRIC will promote compliance with both Olympics promises and international human rights obligations undertaken by the Chinese government towards the Olympics and beyond. We invite you to join in our effort.” Our work will not end when the Olympic torch is extinguished. HRIC will continue to promote institutional change for human rights and to advocate for the rights of individuals. Please join us by logging on to our Olympics campaign website, http://www.ir2008.org. Here you will find monthly actions, in which you can participate, to help make a difference for individuals in prison and to promote human rights in China. Please log on and start Playing for the Future! Christine Loh Kung Wai and Andrew J. Nathan Co-Chairs, Human Rights in China

Human Rights in China (HRIC) | http://www.hrichina.org | hrichina@hrichina.org