Text: Lawmaker Wants U.N. Condemnation of China's Rights Abuses
(Pelosi: Administration should "lobby other governments")

Representative Nancy Pelosi (Democrat of California) announced February 14 the beginning of a campaign to have a resolution condemning Beijing's human rights violations passed in Geneva at the United Nations Human Rights Commission meeting.

At the meeting on Capitol Hill with fellow Democrat Senator Paul Wellstone of Minnesota, she called on the new Bush administration "to introduce and lobby other governments to support a resolution censuring China's human rights record," according to a news release from Pelosi's office.

"The Bush Administration should use its leverage to begin the process of dismantling China's massive system of forced labor camps and restrictions on the freedom to assemble," said Pelosi, a long time critic of China's human rights record.

Following is the text of the February 14 news release from the office of Representative Nancy Pelosi:

(begin text)

PELOSI CALLS FOR U.N. RESOLUTION TO CONDEMN CHINA'S HUMAN RIGHTS RECORD

WASHINGTON -- Today Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) joined members of the House of Representatives and the Senate in a campaign to pass a resolution condemning the human rights violations of the Chinese government at the United Nations Human Rights Commission in Geneva.

"The world looks to our new President to declare his commitment to promoting democratic values. President George W. Bush can send a clear message of support for human rights throughout the world by leading the campaign to pass this resolution. I call on President Bush and the Administration to introduce and lobby other governments to support a resolution censuring China's human rights record. Year after year, the human rights situation in China continues to worsen and the international community continues to be silent. Now it is more important than ever for the United States to organize and win the vote in Geneva," Pelosi said.

"China continues to ignore its own constitution and violate the basic rights of its own citizens. Most recently, Amnesty International released a report documenting torture administered by the Chinese authorities and cites evidence of hundreds such incidents. The report states that the use of torture has surged in China with the targets ranging from political dissidents to religious activists. Unfortunately, torture has been a method actively used by the Chinese government on its citizens for a long time."

"In addition, China must be pressed to ratify two U.N. human rights treaties it has signed: the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The Bush Administration should use its leverage to begin the process of dismantling China's massive system of forced labor camps and restrictions on the freedom to assemble," Pelosi said.

(end text)

(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)

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