In 2003, HRIC launched a five-year campaign, "Incorporating Responsibility 2008" (IR2008). The campaign leveraged the international and domestic opportunities arising out of the 2008 Beijing Olympics’ commitments to promote equitable development, freedom of expression, and other human rights. The campaign’s specific goals were to: support domestic activists, expand China’s independent civil society space, and promote the Chinese government’s compliance with its Olympics promises and international human rights obligations.

On February 9, 2009, China underwent its first Universal Periodic Review (UPR) at the Human Rights Council in Geneva. During the review, 60 member states of the UN engaged in an interactive dialogue with the Chinese delegation about the implementation of its international human rights obligations.