(Clearwisdom.net) The Grand Council of the Republic and Canton of Geneva
passed Resolution R461 on October 24, 2002, concerning violations of human
rights, including the inhuman treatment of Falun Gong practitioners
(Translation):
CONSIDERING:
- That the People's Republic of China is a Party to the International
Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment
or Punishment of 12 December 1986, and that it ratified on 4 October 1988
and signed on 5 October 1998 the United Nations International Covenant on
Civil and Political Rights of 16 December 1966;
- That, more generally, human rights are part of international customary
law, since they are the reflection of universal awareness of human dignity;
- That human rights include freedom of association (article 22 of the
Covenant) and peaceful assembly (article 21 of the Covenant) and various
guarantees which concern respect for life, liberty and security of person
(Covenant, articles 6, 9 and 17) or prohibit cruel, inhuman or degrading
treatment (Covenant, articles 7 and 10; International Convention against
Torture), arbitrary detention and other violations of the principles of
judicial procedure (Covenant, articles 9 and 14);
- That the aforementioned freedoms and guarantees are frequently violated in
the People's Republic of China, inter alia [among other things-ed.],
in the case of Falun Gong practitioners, a great many of whom are the
victims of persecution, arrest, torture, other cruel, inhuman or degrading
treatment, summary procedures or even capital punishment;
- That Government-level dialogue concerning the development of human rights
exists between Switzerland and the People's Republic of China and provides
the occasion for regular meetings between the delegations of our two
countries.
The Grand Council of the Republic and Canton of Geneva
Regrets that, despite the fact that the People's Republic of China has
acceded to the United Nations International Covenant on Civil and Political
Rights and has ratified the International Convention against Torture, violations
of human rights occur in China, inter alia, in respect of
practitioners of Falun Gong, as regards:
- Freedom of association, which is severely restricted,
- Respect for life, liberty and security of person, particularly in view of
the numerous arbitrary arrests, the practice of torture and other cruel,
inhuman or degrading treatment, and judicial procedures which are often
summary, including the handing down and execution of capital sentences,
Nevertheless welcomes the dialogue initiated between the Swiss Federal
Authorities and the People's Republic of China with a view to encouraging the
development of human rights in China, and expresses the hope that the Federal
Council will continue this dialogue.
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