(Washington, D.C.—July 1, 2015) China Aid hosted Taiwan’s former vice-president and current NGO leader Annette Lu during a visit to Washington, DC in late June to discuss the strategic importance of advancing religious freedom in the Asia Pacific region. During her visit, Madame Lu met with Members of Congress, and think tank and NGO leaders to build support for mechanisms to support human rights, religious freedom, and democracy in the Asia Pacific, including the Asia Pacific Religious Freedom Forum scheduled for early 2016.

From left: USCIRF Policy Analyst for China Tina Mufford,                    China Aid Chairman Joe Torres, China Aid founder and President                    Bob Fu, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Lantos                   Foundation for Human Rights Katrina Lantos-Sweatt, former                   Taiwanese Vice President Annette Lu, China Aid Vice President                   Kody Kness, China Aid advisor and former Chairman Doug Robison                   and USCIRF Director of Policy and Research Knox Thames.                                                                                                        (Photo: China Aid)

Lu has been a lifelong advocate of human rights, religious freedom and democracy, and was herself imprisoned for over 6 years after giving a speech to commemorate Human Rights Day, in which Amnesty International subsequently deemed her a prisoner of conscience. Lu described her experiences as a human rights and democracy advocate at a briefing at Amnesty International, and with senior leaders from the McCain Institute, Freedom House, the Heritage Foundation, and with participants of the International Religious Freedom Roundtable.

While in Washington, Lu also provided interviews at Radio Free Asia and Voice of America, and met with Commissioner Katrina Lantos-Swett of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, and Members of Congress, including Senator Cornyn (R-Texas), and Congressmen Meadows (R-N.C.), McGovern (D-Mass.), Salmon (R-Ariz.), Pittenger (R-N.C.), Harper (R-Miss.), Smith (R-N.J.), Sires (D-N.J.), Forbes (R-Va.), Diaz-Balart (R-Fla.), and Chabot (R-Ohio).

China Aid works closely with NGO leaders such as Madame Lu to promote religious freedom and related human rights, and strengthen partnerships with like-minded individuals and organizations.

From left: CECC Staff Director Paul Protic, China Aid Advisor and former Chairman Doug Robison, China Aid Founder and President Bob Fu, former Taiwanese Vice President Annette Lu, Congressman Chris Smith (R-N.J.), China Aid Vice President Kody Kness and China Aid Chairman Joe Torres. (Photo: China Aid)

From left: China Aid Chairman Joe Torres, China Aid founder and President Bob Fu, Congressman John Cornyn (R-Texas), former Taiwanese Vice President Annette Lu, China Aid  Advisor and former Chairman Doug Robison and China Aid Vice President Kody Kness. (Photo: China Aid)

From left: China Aid Chairman Joe Torres, China Aid Vice President Kody Kness, China Aid founder and President Bob Fu, Congressman Jim McGovern (D-Mass.), former Taiwanese Vice President Annette Lu and China Aid Advisor and former Chairman Doug Robison. (Photo: China Aid)

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Rachel Ritchie, English Media Director
Cell: (432) 553-1080 | Office: 1+ (888) 889-7757 | Other: (432) 689-6985
Email: r.ritchie@chinaaid.org
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