*EPF102 03/22/2004
Text: U.S. To Introduce U.N. Resolution on China's Human Rights Practices
(State Department March 22 statement) (390)

The United States plans to introduce a resolution on China's human rights practices during the 60th session of the U.N. Commission on Human Rights (UNCHR), scheduled for March 15 to April 23 in Geneva, according to a statement issued by the Department of State March 22.

The United States is introducing the resolution because it has been disappointed by China's failure to meet commitments made at the December 2002 U.S.-China Human Rights Dialogue and has been concerned about "backsliding on key human rights issues" in several areas since that time, the statement said.

"Our goal in sponsoring this resolution is to encourage China to take positive, concrete steps to meet its international obligations to protect the human rights and fundamental freedoms of the Chinese people," according to the State Department.

Following is the text of the statement:

(begin text)

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman
March 22, 2004

STATEMENT BY RICHARD BOUCHER, SPOKESMAN

U.N. Commission on Human Rights China Resolution

The United States will introduce a resolution on China's human rights practices at the 2004 U.N. Commission on Human Rights meeting in Geneva March 15-April 23. Our goal in sponsoring this resolution is to encourage China to take positive, concrete steps to meet its international obligations to protect the human rights and fundamental freedoms of the Chinese people.

The United States has been disappointed by China's failure to meet the commitments made at the U.S.-China Human Rights Dialogue in December 2002 as well as its failure to follow through on its stated intention to expand cooperation on human rights in 2003. We are also concerned about backsliding on key human rights issues that has occurred in a variety of areas since that time.

We call on other members of the international community, especially members of the Commission on Human Rights, to join with us in supporting a resolution. We also call on members of the Commission to vote against procedural no-action motions that seek to prevent debate on resolutions and, as such, are not consistent with democratic principles such as freedom of speech. Such no-action motions prevent the only global body charged specifically with human rights from fulfilling its mandate.

(end text)

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

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