The Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC) is an independent agency of the U.S. government which monitors human rights and rule of law developments in the People's Republic of China. It was created in October 2001 under Title III of H.R. 4444, which authorizes normal trade relations with the PRC, and establishes a framework for relations between the two countries. The commission was given the mandate by the U.S. Congress to monitor and report on human rights issues with a particular focus on compliance with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Its reporting covers developments in freedom of expression, the right to peaceful assembly, religious freedom, freedom of movement, freedom from arbitrary arrest and detention or torture, and the right to a fair trial, among others. The commission publishes an annual report to the President of the United States and Congress, typically in the fall of each year. It also maintains a database of prisoners of conscience, holds regular roundtables and hearings, and issues letters to other institutions concerning human rights matters.
Work
Annual report
The CECC publishes an annual report on human rights and rule of law developments in China, usually in the fall of each year, and covers issues such as freedom of expression, worker rights, religious freedom, ethnic minority rights, population planning, status of women, climate change and the environment, treatment of North Korean refugees, civil society, access to justice, and democratic governance. The reports draw on a variety of sources, including information from human rights groups, media reports, government, and Chinese Communist Party documents.
Prisoner database
As part of its mandate from Congress, the CECC maintains a partial database of religious and political prisoners believed to be detained in China. As of 2013, the database contained over 7,300 names. Over 1,300 of these are believed to be detained currently, while the remainder have been released, killed, or escaped. The database was created with the assistance of the Dui Hua Foundation and Tibet Information Network.
Staff
The commission consists of a staff of researchers and analysts, and is overseen by as many as nine members each from the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, as well as senior executive branch officials. Chairmanship of the commission rotates between the majority parties from the House and Senate. The commission is currently chaired by Jeff Merkley (D-OR).
On December 23, 2022, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi announced that Todd Stein, CECC deputy staff director, would be one of two individuals sanctioned by China with effect from the same day. The order specified that this was in retaliation to the United States having sanctioned two Chinese officials earlier that month over human rights issues in Tibet. In an emailed comment to The Associated Press, Stein said the sanction order against him didn’t matter in light of the “thousands of prisoners of conscience jailed by Chinese authorities.”
Commissioners
Commissioners, 117th Congress
Commissioners, 116th Congress
Commissioners, 115th Congress
Commissioners, 114th Congress
Commissioners, 113th Congress
Commissioners, 112th Congress
Commissioners, 111th Congress
Commissioners, 110th Congress
Commissioners, 109th Congress
Commissioners, 108th Congress
Commissioners, 107th Congress
Historical leadership
See also
United States-China Economic and Security Review Commission
United States House Select Committee on Strategic Competition between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party