Brussels, 22/01/2001 (Agence Europe) - On Monday, the General Affairs Council adopted conclusions that specify the aims that the EU intends to achieve through its dialogue with China over human rights. By making these aims public, the EU "hopes to give greater transparency to its human rights policy with China and to prepare the ground for an exchange of information with civil society on the issue", assert the conclusions. Following on from the line defined by the conclusions from March 2000, the Council thus attempts to return a meaning to this dialogue, strongly criticised by human rights defence organisations. In fact, for the NGOs, the nine met since the continuation of the dialogue in 1997 have not only been sterile, but counterproductive, by giving a positive image of China while the human rights situation has become worse.
The Council recognises that the situation has worsened, despite a few improvements, such as the signing on conventions on social and economic rights and on civil and political rights, or a certain desire to improve the legal system. It also underlines the EU's concern in the face of the lack of progress in specific fields: "the restriction of freedoms of assembly, expression and association, the violation of the freedom of religion and belief, the situation of the minorities including in Tibet, the frequent use of the death penalty". Moreover, "the reactions slowly take the shape of concrete action (ratification of signed conventions), and are still incomplete (legislation on the violation of national security, definition of torture, right to a defence, reform of the penal system)".
In this vein, the Council feels that the dialogue on human rights should be, "more effective", "better prepared" and concentrate on specific fields: (1) ratification and implementation of United Nations conventions on civil and political rights, and on economic, social and cultural rights; (2) cooperation with the international human rights mechanisms: report on torture, follow-up of recommendations by rapporteurs, implementation of agreement concluded with the UN High Commission for Human Rights; (3) limit the death sentences; (4) reform the penal administration and introduction of legal appeals procedures; (5) respect fundamental rights of prisoners including political opponents and members of religious or other movements (such as the Falung Gong) better access to prisoners including in the autonomous regions; (6) freedom to practice religion; (7) respect for the right to organisation; (8) respect for cultural and religious rights in Tibet and Xinjiang (while taking into account the UN recommendations), end to the patriotic education campaign in Tibet, access for independent delegations to the young Panchen Lama, Gedhun Chohekyi Nyima, who was recognised by the Dalai Lama.