The story of Chinese tennis player Peng Shuai accusing former Chinese vice premier Zhang Gaoli of forcing her into a sexual relationship is an ongoing worldwide media buzz. The incident may represent a sea change in the way professional communities react to human rights violations, wherever they may occur.
Peng is the first person in the history of the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) rule to use her real name and identity to publicly accuse a top official of abusing his position for the purpose of sexual exploitation.
The international community quickly launched a #WhereIsPengShuai social media campaign after Peng’s whereabouts became a mystery. It was the first time that such a campaign was not driven by the victim’s family or human rights activists, but rather by her international fellow peers: the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) and its CEO Steve Simon, numerous professional tennis players, and other sports stars…. [Continue Reading]
Source: WTA’s Approach to Peng Shuai Case Can Improve China’s Human Rights
