After receiving the Yahoo Human Rights Fund in 2008, the Laogai Research Foundation has conducted humanitarian support activities for political prisoners in China. In recent years, the newboard of the Laogai Research Foundation has provided more than US$40,000 per year to China’s political victims since 2018.  This humanitarian supports were through various well-known human rights organizations such as the Independent Chinese PEN Center, the Chinese Democracy Education Foundation (CDEF)–Australia Support Network for the Persecuted in China, and the Minnesota Chinese Democracy Foundation. Humanitarian financial aid has assisted more than 300 Chinese political prisoners and their families.

With the Chinese government’s repression of civil society and tightening of speech control, more and more political prisoners have emerged in China, many of whom and their families face financial difficulties. Due to changes in the world situation and the impact of the new crown epidemic, the world’s humanitarian aid funds about China’s human rights cannot cover Chinese political prisoners who need urgent financial assistance.

To this end, while maintaining the original humanitarian support, the Board of the Laogai Research Foundation decided to set up a new small-scale humanitarian aid to provide direct assistance to Chinese political prisoners and their families. This project is a one-time small grant ranging from US$300-$1500.Although it is difficult for this project to improve the situation of Chinese political prisoners, ultimately, it will benefit the existing aid system for Chinese political prisoners and prisoners of conscience.

To improve the efficiency of the use of funds, the recipients receiving assistance should meet the following conditions:

1) The individual is being jailed or released after his/her detention for not less than one year;

2) The individual or his/her family has financial difficulties because of the suffering above;

3) The reason why the individual was detained was because of his/her pursue freedom of speech publicly;

4) The recipient agrees that the small grants are only used to improve their lives;

5) The recipient has not received other humanitarian assistance recently, or although the recipient has received it, it is difficult to meet the needs.

Recipients should apply by themselves, their family members, or their agents, and send an application email directly to this project of the Laogai Research Foundation.

The applicant should state his/her suffering case, provide evidence and contact information in the email. Usually, there should be referees to verify the situation. The applicant who needs to receive assistance has an emergency and needshelp as soon as possible.  For any special assistance requirements, the applicant can also explain in the relevant email.

This project will start accepting applications from October 1, 2020.

The contact email: laogaiaid@gmail.com.