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Advocacy group Access Now says major human rights conference was canceled after Chinese pressure on Zambia

By Thomson Reuters May 1, 2026 | 12:14 PM

By Raphael Satter

WASHINGTON, May 1 (Reuters) – Advocacy group ​Access ‌Now says that a major human rights conference ‌was ​canceled ⁠after Chinese officials ⁠pressured the government of Zambia.

In a statement, ​Access Now said that ⁠the ⁠RightsCon conference due ​to begin in ​early May was ‌canceled after they group learned that “diplomats ⁠from the People’s Republic of China (PRC) were ⁠putting ‌pressure on ⁠the Government ​of ‌Zambia because ​Taiwanese civil ⁠society” was planning to join the conference.

(Reporting by Raphael ​Satter)