The Africa, Global Human Rights and International Operations subcommittee will probe the question of whether the UN Commission on Human Rights (UNCHR) continues to promote and serve the purpose it was created to advance: respect for internationally recognized human rights and freedoms. 

    Featured at the hearing will be Bob Fu, a former Chinese prisoner of conscience who was recently removed from the 61^st session of the UN Human Rights Commission earlier this month, after he made a presentation showing how China tortures religious prisoners with specially designed electro-shock devices. The Chinese delegation complained that the equipment ‘made them feel threatened’, and insisted that Mr. Fu be removed from the conference, his credentials seized, and his Chinese torture device confiscated. Mr. Fu’s credentials were issued by a non-governmental organization (NGO), A Woman’s Voice International (AWVI).

    Many in Congress and around the world have questioned and criticized the membership of the UNCHR for including a number of countries whose records on human rights are almost universally recognized as deplorable. Many of these regimes (such as the People’s Republic of China, Cuba, Saudi Arabia, and Sudan) seek membership on the UNCHR in order to deflect criticism from their own poor human rights records, and mutually support each other to prevent the Commission from appointing special rapporteurs to examine particular human rights abuses or situations.

    “The Chinese delegation was sadly able to silence a prominent human rights critic by manipulating the rules of the UN conference and levying false threat allegations. Because the UN unfortunately accepted and bowed to the Chinese delegation’s outrageous demands, other NGOs could now come under government pressure to curtail their criticism of regimes that flagrantly violate human rights. Whenever an NGO issues credentials to outspoken advocates, in the back of their minds they must now worry that the UN might side with tyrannies and kick human rights supporters out of the session if they say or display anything a human rights abuser feels is objectionable” Chairman Chris Smith said.

What:

• The House International Relations Subcommittee on Africa, Global Human Rights and International Operations hearing on “The UN Commission on Human Rights: Protector or Accomplice?”

When:

• Tuesday, April 19, 2005, 2:00 p.m. 

Where:

• Room 2172 The Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, DC

Witnesses:

• Mark P. Lagon, Ph.D., U.S. Department of State; 
• Bob Fu, President China Aid Association;
• The Honorable Richard Williamson, former US Ambassador to the UN;
• Mr. Joseph Loconte, The Heritage Foundation; and Jennifer Windsor, Freedom House