United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Mary Robinson today welcomed China’s decision to ratify the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.
Speaking in Bangkok at the closing of the ninth Asia Pacific Regional Workshop on Human Rights, Mrs. Robinson expressed disappointment, however, at reports that the ratification was subject to a reservation in relation to paragraph 1 (a), article 8, of the Covenant dealing with trade union rights.
“It is heartening to see that China has decided to ratify the Covenant”, said the High Commissioner. “I hope the decision by the National Peoples’ Congress is indicative of China’s intention to ratify soon the Covenant’s sister treaty, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. I also hope that any reservation on article 8 of the Covenant would be withdrawn”.
Mrs. Robinson wound up on Tuesday a visit to Beijing, where she took part in a workshop on the punishment of minor crimes including reeducation through labour. The workshop was the first in a series of activities planned under a Memorandum of Understanding between China and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) agreed on 20 November 2000.
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