FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 22 1999

For more information call:

Xiao Qiang, (212) 239.4495

Commission on Human Rights: China off the hook

Human Rights in China expresses its profound disappointment at the decision made by the European Union today not to sponsor a resolution that specifically addresses the human rights situation in China at the U.N.

Commission on Human Rights. With this decision, the European Union blatantly mistakes token gestures, like the sending of dissidents from prison into exile, for a genuine effort at improving China's human rights situation.

"We are witnessing the harshest crackdown in China since 1989. Clearly, the decision not to draft a resolution on China is not based on the merits of China's human rights record. It is time to go beyond expressing concern to taking action," said Xiao Qiang, Executive Director of Human Rights in China.

Human Rights in China (HRIC) is an international and independent non-for-profit organization with offices in New York and Hong Kong, which monitors the human rights situation in China. For the last six years, HRIC has attended the Commission on Human Rights to testify on China's human rights abuses. This year, HRIC's delegation, comprising of Liu Nianchun, Xiao Qiang, Wang Yu and Beatrice Laroche, will attend the Commission in Geneva from March 30 to April 15.

On April 6, from 1:15 to 3:00 p.m., HRIC delegates will speak at a briefing on China organized by FIDH, Federation Internationale des Ligues des Droits de l'Homme in Room XXVII, Palais des Nations.

Liu Nianchun will present an update of the human rights situation in China, drawing on his experience as a labor rights activist who spent over three years in detention until his release in December 1998.

Xiao Qiang will examine the shift from multilateral pressure through the Commission on Human Rights to bilateral "dialogues on human rights" behind closed doors, and question whether bilateral dialogues have improved China's human rights situation.

Beatrice Laroche will speak about violations of the human rights of Chinese women, covering issues such as trafficking of women, discrimination in employment and the population control policy.

For further information during the session call

(41 22) 732 80 10 - fax: (41 22) 732 85 95.0

Visit our website at: www.hrichina.org

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Human Rights in China, Inc.

350 Fifth Avenue, Suite 3309

New York, NY 10118, U.S.A.

Tel: 212-239-4495 Fax: 212-239-2561

http://www.HRIChina.org

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