[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 54 (Wednesday, April 24, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E614-E615]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     UNICEF HELPING CHINESE ORPHANS

                                 ______


                           HON. DOUG BEREUTER

                              of nebraska

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 23, 1996

  Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Speaker, this Member commends to his colleagues the 
following exchange of letters concerning the efforts of the United 
Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) to improve the plight of orphans in 
the People's Republic of China. The exchange of letters was 
precipitated by a well-documented investigation by Human Rights Watch--
Asia, published in January 1996 under the title, ``Death by Default.''
  Earlier this year, this Member wrote to Carol Bellamy, Executive 
Director of UNICEF, urging that agency to expand its programs in China

[[Page E615]]

and to work with the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the 
Child to examine China's performance in implementing its 
responsibilities under the UN Convention. In Ms. Bellamy's response, 
she describes UNICEF's program in China and provides some useful 
information on steps the Chinese Government is taking to improve 
conditions in the orphanages.
         Congress of the United States, Committee on International 
           Relations,
                                 Washington, DC, February 2, 1996.
     Ms. Carol Bellamy,
     Executive Director, United Nations Children's Fund, New York, 
         NY.
       Dear Ms. Bellamy: I am writing to you regarding the tragic 
     reports on the mistreatment of orphans in the People's 
     Republic of China. As you know, these reports are based on a 
     well-documented investigation by Human Rights Watch--Asia, 
     published in January 1996 under the title, ``Death by 
     Default.''
       I was pleased to see the January 22, 1996, UNICEF 
     announcement of an agreement with China to start a program to 
     improve the care of orphans and disabled children in that 
     country. The two training projects involved, while rather 
     limited, represent a solid basis for increased cooperation 
     between China and UNICEF in this crucial area. I urge you to 
     continue to try to deepen UNICEF's involvement by expanding 
     into all areas of the country and working with as wide a 
     range of Chinese orphanages as possible.
       There is another area where I believe UNICEF and the 
     international community can contribute to improving 
     conditions in China's orphanages. As a signatory to the 
     United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, the 
     People's Republic of China has certain responsibilities 
     regarding the care of children in state-run institutions. It 
     is apparent from the Human Rights Watch report that China has 
     failed to live up to those responsibilities in fundamental 
     ways.
       I urge appropriate agencies of the United Nations, 
     including UNICEF and WHO, to work closely with the UN 
     Committee on the Rights of the Child in Geneva to examine 
     China's performance in implementing its responsibilities 
     under the UN Convention.
       Thank you for your efforts in this area. Please keep me 
     informed of any developments.
           Best wishes,
                                                    Doug Bereuter,
     Vice Chairman.
                                                                    ____



                                                 UNICEF House,

                                     New York, NY, March 11, 1996.
     Hon. Doug Bereuter,
     Vice Chairman, Committee on International Relations, House of 
         Representatives, Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. Bereuter: Many thanks for your letter of February 
     2 regarding the situation of children in the Child Welfare 
     Institutes (CWIs) in the Peoples Republic of China. My 
     apologies for the delay in responding, but I have been out of 
     the country for much of the time since we met on February 9.
       Over these past five or six weeks, our UNICEF country 
     office in Beijing has continued its dialogue with the 
     Government of China regarding the CWIs and I believe that 
     they are producing some progress for the children who are 
     living in them. As you may recall from our discussion, an 
     understanding had already been developed with the Government 
     in January regarding two specific adjuncts to our ongoing 
     work in the country. The first, which implies a Needs 
     Assessment of all institutes in the country, will identify 
     the most ``at risk'' institutes throughout the 30 provinces 
     and autonomous regions in need of a capacity building 
     strategy which will train their staff, improve the standard 
     of rehabilitation services, and establish improved management 
     procedures. One Institute in each province will be upgraded 
     to serve as a model and resource center for training and 
     improvement of rehabilitation skills. The second focuses on 
     in-service training of staff and trainers on child care, 
     rehabilitation and management through National Training and 
     Rehabilitation Centers under the Ministry of Civil Affairs.
       However, in addition to the addition to these specific 
     program activities, we have learned in the last two weeks of 
     some importance policy changes that are underway as a result 
     of UNICEF's cooperation with the Ministry of Civil Affairs on 
     the situation of China's orphans. First, our China office has 
     been advised that the Government will increase action at all 
     administrative levels to heighten advocacy and mobilization 
     to reduce abandonment of children. Following ratification of 
     the Convention, the Government of China enacted the Law on 
     the protection of Minors which considers abandonment of 
     children a criminal activity. Second, the Ministry of Health 
     will now provide all children found abandoned and to be 
     admitted to any of the Institutes a complete health 
     evaluation at a nearly hospital. Very sick children will not 
     be forwarded to the Institutes, which do not have up-to-date 
     medical equipment, until they have been treated. This was not 
     done previously and will reduce the risk to seriously ill 
     children. Third, the Government has decided to amend its 
     present policy that the living standards of the children in 
     the CWIs be the same as in the surrounding community. This 
     policy has caused some disparities in the CWIs. The new 
     policy will require a living standard that is somewhat higher 
     than that of families living in the surrounding communities. 
     Fourth, the Government has decided to increase the budgetary 
     investment in the CWIs to renovate and improve their physical 
     infrastructure.
       Of course, as you have noted, the Convention on the Rights 
     of the Child is a powerful tool with which to promote the 
     minimum standards for the survival, development and 
     protection of children that are now a part of international 
     law. The Government of China has ratified the Convention and 
     we look forward to our continuing cooperation with the 
     Government to ensure that these standards become a reality 
     for all of China's children.
       Many thanks for your support.
           Sincerely,
                                                    Carol Bellamy,
     Executive Director.

                          ____________________