CNHRA EVENT RECORD · CNHRA-E-680632
Gao Zhisheng: Reported Disappearance in 2017 and UN Follow-up
Date
2017-08-13
Location
China; current whereabouts after loss of contact not independently established
Event Type
Disappearance
Human Rights Issues
Right to Liberty and Security
Record ID
CNHRA-E-680632
Summary
Description
Following his release on sentence completion in 2014, Gao’s family reported another disappearance on August 13, 2017. UN Special Procedures sent urgent appeal CHN 8/2017 on September 12 seeking information from China.[3]
On February 28, 2025, Special Procedures renewed inquiries about his whereabouts, search measures and investigation. China’s April 29 reply recounted the earlier sentence and 2014 release and denied enforced disappearance.[2][1]
On April 20, 2023, Geng He submitted written testimony to the US House of Representatives seeking information from China about Gao’s whereabouts and permission for calls and visits. She said the family had received no news of him since August 2017.[4]
Developments
Family reports disappearance
Joint urgent appeal
UN Special Procedures sent urgent appeal CHN 8/2017 seeking information from China about Gao’s disappearance and whereabouts.[3]
Wife submits testimony seeking information
Geng He submitted written testimony to a House hearing seeking information and family contact.[4]
UN again seeks whereabouts
The communication reports the family’s inability to contact him since 2017 and requests search and investigation details; this is not a new disappearance date.[2]
China replies to inquiries
China’s reply recounts the sentence and release from 2006 to 2014 and denies enforced disappearance.[1]
Related People
Organizations
No organizations have been added.
Documents
Sources
- [1]
CNHRA-S-188382Government of China / United Nations
Evidence location: PDF cover dated 29 April 2025; sections I.A, I.B, I.D and III.
- [2]
CNHRA-S-721486UN Special Procedures
Evidence location: PDF pp. 1–5; sections on Ding Jiaxi, Gao Zhisheng, Huang Qi and Ilham Tohti; questions to the government.
- [3]
CNHRA-S-497543UN Special Procedures
Evidence location: CHN 8/2017 entry: reported disappearance, the August 2014 release date and questions concerning Gao’s whereabouts.
- [4]
CNHRA-S-706452US House Committee on Foreign Affairs
Evidence location: Pages 1–2: 2007 letter to Congress and absence of contact after 2017.