[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 17 (Wednesday, January 28, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Pages S997-S998]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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   SENATE RESOLUTION 24--COMMENDING CHINA'S CHARTER 08 MOVEMENT AND 
  RELATED EFFORTS FOR UPHOLDING THE UNIVERSALITY OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND 
                 ADVANCING DEMOCRATIC REFORMS IN CHINA

  Mr. CASEY (for himself and Mr. Brownback) submitted the following 
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations:

[[Page S998]]

                               S. Res. 24

       Whereas the People's Republic of China adopted in 1971 the 
     Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and has signed or 
     ratified numerous international covenants and conventions 
     protecting human rights, including the International Covenant 
     on Civil and Political Rights, done at New York December 16, 
     1966, and entered into force March 23, 1976, the 
     International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural 
     Rights, done at New York December 16, 1966, and entered into 
     force January 3, 1976, and the International Convention 
     Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading 
     Treatment or Punishment, done at New York, December 10, 1984, 
     and entered into force June 26, 1987, among others;
       Whereas the Constitution of the People's Republic of China 
     ``protects and guarantees human rights'' by providing 
     citizens with equality under the law, freedom of speech, 
     press, assembly, association, procession, and demonstration, 
     the right to own and inherit private property, freedom of 
     religion, equality for women, and numerous other rights 
     consistent with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and 
     other international human rights conventions and covenants;
       Whereas, since 1991, the Governments of the United States 
     and China have held 13 Human Rights Dialogues, the most 
     recent of which took place in May 2008 in Beijing;
       Whereas, in January 1977, more than 200 citizens of 
     Czechoslovakia, representing different professions, faiths, 
     and beliefs, formed a ``loose, informal, and open association 
     of people. . . united by the will to strive individually and 
     collectively for respect for human and civil rights'' and 
     issued a document called Charter 77, which called on their 
     government to protect basic civic and human rights as 
     enshrined under national laws;
       Whereas, inspired by the Charter 77 movement, on December 
     10, 2008, an informal group of more than 300 citizens of 
     China from a wide array of backgrounds, professions, faiths, 
     and beliefs issued a public statement entitled ``Charter 
     08'', a 19-point plan calling for greater rights and 
     political reform in China, increased liberties, democracy, 
     religious freedom, and rule of law;
       Whereas authorities in China have detained several 
     affiliates of that Charter 08 effort, including Liu Xiaobo, 
     who remains in custody;
       Whereas the Department of State has called on the 
     Government of China to release Liu Xiaobo and cease 
     harassment of all Chinese citizens who peacefully express 
     their desire for internationally-recognized fundamental 
     freedoms; and
       Whereas thousands of individuals have added their names to 
     the Charter 08 petition, and the document has been referenced 
     in over 300,000 websites and blogs: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) notes the numerous commitments the China has made to 
     the international community as a signatory to the United 
     Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other 
     international conventions;
       (2) commends the citizens of China who have signed onto 
     Charter 08 and are upholding principles consistent with 
     China's international commitments on human rights and its own 
     constitution;
       (3) calls on the Government of China to release all people 
     detained because of their involvement or affiliation with the 
     Charter 08 effort, including Liu Xiaobo, in addition to all 
     prisoners of conscience detained in violation of the domestic 
     law and international commitments of China; and
       (4) calls on President Barack Obama and Secretary of State 
     Hillary Clinton to engage with the Government of China on 
     human rights issues at every reasonable opportunity and using 
     all diplomatic means available, including the U.S.-China 
     Human Rights Dialogue, and resist pressure to replace this 
     dialogue with a weaker alternative.

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