Vol. 571 No. 2
112 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the representations he has made to the Chinese authorities regarding serious human rights abuses involving members of the Falun Gong organisation; the response he has received from the Chinese Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21091/03]
The House will recall that on a number of occasions this year, I have set out the Government's position with regard to the Falun Gong organisation. Members will recall that Falun Gong was banned by the Chinese authorities in July 1999; the Chinese Government continues to regard it as an "evil cult".
However, the Government takes concerns about human rights in China, including those of Falun Gong members, seriously. Human rights, including the treatment of practitioners of Falun Gong, are an integral part of our ongoing relationship with China. I raised these matters directly with the Chinese authorities during my official visit to Beijing, in January 2002. In February 2003, my colleague Deputy Kitt, Minister of State with responsibility for overseas development and human rights, reviewed these issues with concerned NGOs.
Last week, in the margins of the UN General Assembly in New York, I represented Ireland in the EU troika meeting with Foreign Minister Li of China. During our meeting we held substantive discussions which included a full exchange of views on human rights issues. Both China and the EU reaffirmed their commitment to the EU-China human rights dialogue, the framework established in 1996 within which the EU discusses key human rights concerns, including individual cases, with the Chinese authorities.
At the same time, Foreign Minister Li stressed the importance of mutual respect and emphasised that while China is open to international co-operation in the human rights area, such co-operation should be based on consent, rather than imposition, and he went on to emphasise that China is ready to learn from the EU experience. Foreign Minister Li outlined the progress that has been made in China with respect to human rights. He informed us that his government has recently hosted a symposium on human rights protection for prisoners, with a view to making preparations for the adoption of national guidelines. He also recalled that China has recently submitted its first report under the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, and noted that the Chinese authorities have set up a task group to accelerate the procedure for the ratification and enforcement of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. It is the Government's position that China must be given the support and assistance it needs, to ensure that this progress continues on the protection and promotion of human rights in China.
During the most recent session of the EU-China human rights dialogue, which took place in Athens in March 2003, the EU conveyed our particular concerns in relation to the position of followers of Falun Gong in China. At the subsequent March session of the UN Commission on Human Rights, CHR, in Geneva, the EU urged China to take clear steps to improve the human rights situation generally, and, more specifically, with respect to freedoms of expression, religion and belief, which have a particular impact on practitioners of Falun Gong.
Our embassy in Beijing continues to convey our concerns regarding followers of Falun Gong to the Chinese Ministry for Foreign Affairs, and my Department will continue to monitor the human rights situation in China. Through continued dialogue and engagement, we will encourage and assist the Chinese as they work towards accepting international human rights norms.
