China Defends Its Human Rights Role

WE are very much concerned about the report ‘Abusers Elected to UN Rights Council’ by Alfons Luna, which was reprinted by The Namibian on May 11 2006.

In the report, China was referred to as a “human rights abuser”, which should not have been elected to the newly established Human Rights Council. The Chinese government has been committed to the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms of the Chinese people.Since reform and opening-up started 28 years ago, it has made strenuous efforts in promoting social progress in all fields.China is a developing country with a population of about 1.3 billion.Much work remains to be done in the field of human rights.Yet the Chinese people have made a historic leap from having adequate food and clothing to moderate prosperity.About 250 million people have been lifted above the poverty line.Remarkable achievements have been made in areas of education, culture, health care, science and technology.The National People’s Congress has adopted nearly 300 laws and regulations related to the protection of civil and political rights, ensuring complete freedom of the Chinese people in movement, employment, access to information, religious belief and ways of life.In 2004, the statement that “The State respects and safeguards human rights” was written into the constitution by the National People’s Congress, defining the position of human rights in the overall national development strategy.The Chinese government respects the universality of human rights and supports the UN in playing an important role in the protection and promotion of human rights.It also actively co-operates with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights as well as the special mechanisms of the Human Rights Commission.However, the Chinese government holds that owing to differences in social systems, level of development, religious and cultural background as well as historical tradition, it is only natural for countries to have different views on human rights issues.Therefore, the countries in the world should, on the basis of equality and mutual respect, conduct dialogue and exchanges, enhance mutual understanding, increase consensus, learn from each other, and make common progress.China’s being elected to the UN Human Rights Council speaks volumes for the fact that China has made great achievements in the development of human rights.China will, together with other newly elected members of the UN Human Rights Council, respect the historical, cultural and religious backgrounds of different countries and regions, and promote dialogue among civilisations, cultures and religions; attach equal importance to civil and political rights on the one hand and economic, social and cultural rights on the other.The new Council will ensure impartiality, objectivity and non-selectivity in the consideration of human rights issues, and the elimination of double standards and politicisation, thus avoiding the mistake of political confrontation made by the Human Rights Commission.It is thus unfair for some so-called “human rights watchers” to attack China on its human rights record.Meanwhile, the self-styled “guardians of human rights” tend to keep silent on violations of human rights in their own countries.There exist serious infringements upon personal rights and freedoms by law enforcement and judicial organs in these countries.They also often pursue unilateralism on the international arena, and grossly violate the sovereignty and human rights of other countries in contempt of universally recognised international norms.The fact that some of the so-called “guardians of human rights” didn’t dare to participate or lost in the election well shows that their practice is not accepted by the majority of the countries in the world.As you know, both China and Namibia and the Chinese and Namibian peoples have always been enjoying very friendly relations before and after the independence of Namibia.We hope, as one of the major media in Namibia, The Namibian will increase objective introduction about China’s development, rather than being credulous to the distorted report on China by western media.Hu Aimin Information Officer Chinese Embassy in NamibiaThe Chinese government has been committed to the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms of the Chinese people.Since reform and opening-up started 28 years ago, it has made strenuous efforts in promoting social progress in all fields.China is a developing country with a population of about 1.3 billion.Much work remains to be done in the field of human rights.Yet the Chinese people have made a historic leap from having adequate food and clothing to moderate prosperity.About 250 million people have been lifted above the poverty line.Remarkable achievements have been made in areas of education, culture, health care, science and technology.The National People’s Congress has adopted nearly 300 laws and regulations related to the protection of civil and political rights, ensuring complete freedom of the Chinese people in movement, employment, access to information, religious belief and ways of life.In 2004, the statement that “The State respects and safeguards human rights” was written into the constitution by the National People’s Congress, defining the position of human rights in the overall national development strategy.The Chinese government respects the universality of human rights and supports the UN in playing an important role in the protection and promotion of human rights.It also actively co-operates with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights as well as the special mechanisms of the Human Rights Commission.However, the Chinese government holds that owing to differences in social systems, level of development, religious and cultural background as well as historical tradition, it is only natural for countries to have different views on human rights issues.Therefore, the countries in the world should, on the basis of equality and mutual respect, conduct dialogue and exchanges, enhance mutual understanding, increase consensus, learn from each other, and make common progress.China’s being elected to the UN Human Rights Council speaks volumes for the fact that China has made great achievements in the development of human rights.China will, together with other newly elected members of the UN Human Rights Council, respect the historical, cultural and religious backgrounds of different countries and regions, and promote dialogue among civilisations, cultures and religions; attach equal importance to civil and political rights on the one hand and economic, social and cultural rights on the other.The new Council will ensure impartiality, objectivity and non-selectivity in the consideration of human rights issues, and the elimination of double standards and politicisation, thus avoiding the mistake of political confrontation made by the Human Rights Commission.It is thus unfair for some so-called “human rights watchers” to attack China on its human rights record.Meanwhile, the self-styled “guardians of human rights” tend to keep silent on violations of human rights in their own countries.There exist serious infringements upon personal rights and freedoms by law enforcement and judicial organs in these countries.They also often pursue unilateralism on the international arena, and grossly violate the sovereignty and human rights of other countries in contempt of universally recognised international norms.The fact that some of the so-called “guardians of human rights” didn’t dare to participate or lost in the election well shows that their practice is not accepted by the majority of the countries in the world.As you know, both China and Namibia and the Chinese and Namibian peoples have always been enjoying very friendly relations before and after the independence of Namibia.We hope, as one of the major media in Namibia, The Namibian will increase objective introduction about China’s development, rather than being credulous to the distorted report on China by western media.Hu Aimin Informat
ion Officer Chinese Embassy in Namibia