United States: U.S. Continues to Advance Resolution on China's Human Rights at U.N. Meeting in Geneva

As reported March 25, 2004 in a Voice of America editorial, the U.S. is moving forward with a resolution on China at the United Nations Human Rights Commission meeting in Geneva. U.S. Department of State spokesman Richard Boucher said the goal is to encourage the Chinese government "to take positive, concrete steps to protect human rights and the fundamental freedoms of the Chinese people."

"The United States has been disappointed by China's failure to meet its commitments made at the U.S.-China human rights dialogue in December 2002, as well as the failure to follow through on its stated intention to expand cooperation on human rights in 2003," said Boucher.

According to VOA, the Department of State spokesman said the U.S. resolution is based not on further promises, but on current Chinese government practices. Boucher noted "a continuing series of arrests and practices [in China] that go against the idea that human rights are respected, and we would hope to see those practices change."

"We've seen arrests of democracy activists; we've seen arrests of Internet dissidents; we've seen arrests of HIV/AIDS activists; we've seen arrests of protesting workers, house church members, and defence lawyers. Repression of Falun Gong practitioners continues."

Reference:

VOA Editorial # 0-11242

http://www.voanews.com/Editorials/article.cfm?objectID=8FDD83BB-21B3-423193CF5BBAE62A0B16