China, Ban Ki-Moon finally on human rights
UN secretary-general Ban Ki-Moon finally voiced the issue of human rights in China, speaking at the Central Party School in Beijing last Tuesday, on the last day of his week-long visit to the country.
After critics from several NGOs and human rights groups had expressed unease regarding Mr Ban's “silence,” the secretary-general said in his final speech that the UN charter perfectly matches with “the concept of a harmonious world.”
Unmissable targets, he said, are an understanding between nations and among communities, realisation of economic and social development, and respect for human rights.
“The values embedded in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights are timeless and shared yet unrealised in far too much of the globe. We must continue to work together to make those rights real in people's lives,” he said.
“Achieving the shared goals of human rights is a foundation of peace and harmony in the world.”
“So too is respect for freedom of expression and the protection of its defenders.”
Addressing the audience of officials in the Chinese capital, Mr Ban then urged China to take part as a main player in the world's decisions.
“We need China's full engagement. We need China's leadership,” he said.
During his previous days in the People's Republic, the secretary-general was repeatedly criticised by human rights associations for failing to address the issue before Chinese President Hu Jintao. In his previous talks, Ban Ki-Moon stressed the importance of cooperation between China and the world to tackle climate change and keep peace in Africa, skipping over the human rights concern.
Another matter of criticism was about him failing to call for the release of Nobel Peace Prize winner Liu Xiaobo, the Chinese dissident currently jailed in China.
Sharon Hom, executive director of the international NGO Human Rights in China, told The Fresh Outlook, “We hope that Ban Ki-Moon raised Liu Xiaobo's case in private discussions with president Hu and urged him to respond positively to the broad international calls for his release.”
“It would be extremely disappointing if the secretary-general of the UN – especially one seeking re-election – did not demonstrate the human rights leadership that the UN has already shown in calling for the release of Liu Xiaobo.”
Amnesty International also criticised the UN secretary-general. Corinna-Barbara Francis, China-researcher for the organisation, said Amnesty was “disappointed” about Mr Ban's failing to raise the human rights issue, adding that this “sends the wrong message to the many human rights activists and defenders in China.”
“We see this as undermining the UN's work to promote human rights in its member states,” she said.
About Mr Xiaobo's case, she added: “Given that Ban did call for the release of Aung San Suu Kyi just days earlier, it also seems to indicate that the UN is selective in its enforcement of international human rights obligations.”
A spokesperson from the UN secretary- general's spokesperson office, contacted by The Fresh Outlook in relations to the criticisms, simply commented that Mr Ban's “speech speaks for itself.”
Critics had voiced their concerns regarding whether Ban Ki-Moon's silence on human rights during his previous days in China was driven by his hopes of being re-elected for a second mandate as UN general secretary.
After all, China is a member of the Security Council and has the right of veto.
(Read the full article on The Fresh Outlook)
01.11.2010
After critics from several NGOs and human rights groups had expressed unease regarding Mr Ban's “silence,” the secretary-general said in his final speech that the UN charter perfectly matches with “the concept of a harmonious world.”
Unmissable targets, he said, are an understanding between nations and among communities, realisation of economic and social development, and respect for human rights.
“The values embedded in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights are timeless and shared yet unrealised in far too much of the globe. We must continue to work together to make those rights real in people's lives,” he said.
“Achieving the shared goals of human rights is a foundation of peace and harmony in the world.”
“So too is respect for freedom of expression and the protection of its defenders.”
Addressing the audience of officials in the Chinese capital, Mr Ban then urged China to take part as a main player in the world's decisions.
“We need China's full engagement. We need China's leadership,” he said.
During his previous days in the People's Republic, the secretary-general was repeatedly criticised by human rights associations for failing to address the issue before Chinese President Hu Jintao. In his previous talks, Ban Ki-Moon stressed the importance of cooperation between China and the world to tackle climate change and keep peace in Africa, skipping over the human rights concern.
Another matter of criticism was about him failing to call for the release of Nobel Peace Prize winner Liu Xiaobo, the Chinese dissident currently jailed in China.
Sharon Hom, executive director of the international NGO Human Rights in China, told The Fresh Outlook, “We hope that Ban Ki-Moon raised Liu Xiaobo's case in private discussions with president Hu and urged him to respond positively to the broad international calls for his release.”
“It would be extremely disappointing if the secretary-general of the UN – especially one seeking re-election – did not demonstrate the human rights leadership that the UN has already shown in calling for the release of Liu Xiaobo.”
Amnesty International also criticised the UN secretary-general. Corinna-Barbara Francis, China-researcher for the organisation, said Amnesty was “disappointed” about Mr Ban's failing to raise the human rights issue, adding that this “sends the wrong message to the many human rights activists and defenders in China.”
“We see this as undermining the UN's work to promote human rights in its member states,” she said.
About Mr Xiaobo's case, she added: “Given that Ban did call for the release of Aung San Suu Kyi just days earlier, it also seems to indicate that the UN is selective in its enforcement of international human rights obligations.”
A spokesperson from the UN secretary- general's spokesperson office, contacted by The Fresh Outlook in relations to the criticisms, simply commented that Mr Ban's “speech speaks for itself.”
Critics had voiced their concerns regarding whether Ban Ki-Moon's silence on human rights during his previous days in China was driven by his hopes of being re-elected for a second mandate as UN general secretary.
After all, China is a member of the Security Council and has the right of veto.
(Read the full article on The Fresh Outlook)
01.11.2010