[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 52 (Monday, April 22, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3802-S3803]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         HUMAN RIGHTS IN CHINA

 Mr. KERRY. Mr. President, the U.N. Human Rights Commission is 
preparing to consider a resolution that expresses the concern of the 
international community over human rights abuses in the People's 
Republic of China. As has been well-documented over the last year by 
the State Department, U.N. officials, and numerous human rights 
organizations, the Government of China has been responsible for an 
alarming number of human rights violations. In particular, there have 
been reports of arbitrary arrests and detention, torture, persecution 
of religious and ethnic minorities--particularly in Tibet, and 
censorship of expression. The evidence clearly demonstrates a 
deterioration in the human rights situation in China.
  Despite this overwhelming evidence, apparently some of the members of 
the Human Rights Commission are reluctant to support a resolution that 
criticizes China. Unfortunately, this seems to be a response to 
intensive diplomatic pressure from Beijing. In fact, the Chinese 
diplomatic pressure began even before a resolution was introduced at 
the U.N. Commission.
  At the end of March, I learned from the State Department that some 
members of the European Union [EU] were reconsidering their commitment 
to introduce a resolution on China at the Commission meeting this 
spring. I strongly believe that multilateral efforts, in institutions 
such as the Human Rights Commission, are potentially the most effective 
tool for pressuring China to improve its human rights record. 
Therefore, I authored a letter, signed by 10 of my colleagues from the 
Foreign Relations Committee, urging the Europeans to maintain their 
commitment to introduce a resolution on China at the Human Rights 
Commission. I am pleased that the EU members ultimately decided to 
introduce this resolution, and I hope that our letter encouraged this 
decision.
  The European initiative, however, will be in vain if the Commission 
does not act upon the resolution. This is an important and opportune 
moment for the members of the Commission to join together in a 
multilateral effort to persuade China to improve its human rights 
record. I urge all member states to support the resolution. Even more 
importantly, we must reaffirm the prerogative of the Commission to 
consider any country's human rights record and to hold a vote on any 
resolution that is offered. That prerogative is being challenged by 
China, which is attempting to prevent the Commission from even 
considering the European resolution.
  On December 10, 1948, the U.N. General Assembly adopted the Universal 
Declaration of Human Rights. For the first time in history, the 
countries of

[[Page S3803]]

the world made a commitment to recognizing international human rights. 
Motivated by a conviction to prevent future atrocities, such as those 
committed during World War II, this declaration defined the human 
rights basic to every human being and pledged an international effort 
to protect these rights. Since the adoption of that declaration, many 
other international conventions have been signed and ratified by the 
international community. These conventions address a variety of 
internationally recognized human rights, including political and civil 
rights, the right to be free from torture or religious or ethnic 
persecution, the rights of refugees, and the rights of the child.
  Why has the international community taken these steps to codify 
international human rights law? Because all societies around the world 
have recognized these principles as standards that should govern every 
state's behavior toward its own and other citizens. When a country 
violates the human rights of its citizens, it should be censured by the 
entire international community. We cannot allow any country--no matter 
how powerful or wealthy--to ignore the international legal norms of 
human rights. The United States has always supported the right of the 
international community to raise concerns over human rights violations 
in any country. In fact, last year the Government of Cuba introduced a 
resolution in the U.N. Commission on Human Rights condemning the United 
States for human rights violations. While this resolution was obviously 
ridiculous, the United States did not block a vote and the members of 
the Commission voted against Cuba's proposal. The important message 
here is that the United States recognizes the right of the 
international community to review every country's human rights record.
  It is therefore all the more outrageous that China seeks to prevent 
international consideration of its own dismal human rights record. 
Whether or not countries support the resolution, which I fervently hope 
they do, all members should reject China's effort to prevent the 
Commission from carrying out its mission of calling attention to and 
censuring human rights violations wherever they occur around the world.
  Mr. President, I urge all member states of the Human Rights 
Commission to vote against China's motion to prevent a vote and to 
support the resolution criticizing China's human rights record. It is 
only if the international community continues to work together 
multilaterally that we will be able to compel all countries--
particularly China--to uphold internationally recognized human rights 
standards.

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