The average week of a UK campaigner on HIV/AIDS and hepatitis is diverse and can cover a wide variety of issues. Last week I was invited to participate in an MTV Staying Alive “safe sex” discussion and respond to a thread on masturbation. No problem there, I was happy to oblige and dispel a few myths... no, you can’t become impotent from this form of self pleasure nor should a person feel guilty about what is considered a normal and safe part of sexual activity for both men and women.

I penned my views with little fear of unnecessary censorship or being punished for providing information to young people online around the globe. There was a feeling of satisfaction in sharing knowledge and helping to promote “informed choices” for those who were exploring their sexuality and how that might play out in practical terms. However, the thought crossed my mind, what might the response have been had I expressed views on condoms, homosexuality and masturbation online in China? Would I have even been able to link up with others on a social networking site in the first place?

On May 18, 2010, global campaigners on Facebook held a special day to bring attention to our colleague Hu Jia, a Chinese “activist” imprisoned for three and a half years for “inciting subversion”. Did our friend sell state secrets, plant a bomb, attempt to assassinate someone in the government... no, none of these. He simply and peacefully spoke his mind and tried to educate the public on a number of human rights issues including highlighting the needs of those infected with HIV and hepatitis, helping them to understand their rights.

Hu Jia now sits in a cell, denied his freedom and suffering liver complications as a result of hepatitis B infection which according to China Daily affects around 120 million people within the country. Zeng Jinyan, his wife and their young daughter are sometimes placed under house arrest in Beijing. This courageous lady works with those infected, writes a blog and speaks to the world through Twitter and Facebook knowing that at any time her phone line can be severed as she is under constant surveillance.

In an e-mail to me dated May 25, 2010, she writes: “China is becoming more and more open, thanks to grassroots struggle. However, the authority is tightening control on people. The government is corrupted. The gap between rich and poor is growing bigger and bigger. The authority is the biggest violator of human rights in China. How to prevent corruption and social injustice from happening inside China?

"Hu Jia now sits in a cell, denied his freedom and suffering liver complications as a result of hepatitis B infection which according to China Daily affects around 120 million people within the country."

Freedom of speech and association is the most important step.” Outside of China much of the world celebrates Hu Jia’s vital work on HIV and hepatitis prevention, in fact he was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize and awarded the Sakharov Prize by the European Parliament for “freedom of speech”.

I witnessed the clampdown on campaigners for myself when I visited Beijing for a conference in 2006. I was greeted at the airport with the words, “Welcome to China, Wan has been arrested.” My host AIDS activist Wan Yanhai had suddenly disappeared off the street and our public meetings were cancelled by the security services. The situation worsens - Wan has fled from China. I received an e-mail from the US, he had been unable to continue his work through mounting harassment and the Chinese government is now pulling outside funding from non-governmental organisations. As a global AIDS community many of us count ourselves lucky that we can express our views without punishment. We can choose to bury our heads in the sand or we can act and try to make a difference supporting those who are silenced.

So what will you do, will your voice be heard?

Words: Carol Grayson
Photos: Flickr user Jacques de Goldfiem, of activist Hu Jia.