The 2008 Beijing Olympic Games should be a historic opportunity for human rights improvements in China. But instead of honoring press freedom and other human rights pledges, the Chinese government has jailed human rights advocates, is cracking down on protest in Tibet, and is harassing journalists to choke off any possible expressions of dissent ahead of the Games.

Yet despite their well-publicized pledges on corporate social responsibility and human rights, Olympic sponsors of the Beijing Games have remained largely silent about these developments. The 12 powerful worldwide “TOP” sponsors— including Coca-Cola, General Electric, McDonalds, Kodak and Samsung—literally pay for the Games, and therefore have a unique opportunity to influence the Chinese government. Shareholders and consumers who care about human rights and the rule of law in China should not let Olympic sponsors off the hook.

Encourage these companies to live up to their own policies on corporate social responsibility. Learn more