HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS AND CHINESE GOVERNMENT SIGN MEMORANDUM OF INTENT ON TECHNICAL COOPERATION

HR/98/67
7 September 1998




Mary Robinson: the Accord is the Beginning of an Ongoing
and Constructive Process


The High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mary Robinson, and the Government of China today agreed to establish a technical cooperation programme in the field of human rights.

The agreement, contained in a “Memorandum of Intent”, says the Chinese Government is “committed to the full realization of economic, social, cultural, civil and political rights and the right to development”, intends to make use of advisory services and technical cooperation, and will identify specific cooperation programmes. The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), for its part, shall assist and cooperate with the Government in the development and implementation of these programmes. The implementation of the Memorandum of Intent should lead to a “Memorandum of Understanding” and a detailed programme of implementation.

The High Commissioner welcomed the agreement, calling it the beginning of a process of ongoing constructive dialogue and cooperation. Speaking after the signing, Mrs. Robinson said her Office would, at the request of the Government, provide input on the development of a national plan of action on human rights, assist the authorities in fulfilling their obligations under the human rights treaties, and support the process of acceptance of other human rights instruments China is not yet a party to.

Following the signing of the Memorandum of Intent, the High Commissioner participated in a workshop on the two covenants on economic, social and cultural rights and on civil and political rights. The workshop explored what the ratification of the treaties would entail for domestic Chinese legislation.

The High Commissioner continues her 10-day visit to China tomorrow, meeting officials of the Supreme People’s Court, the State Ethnic Minorities Commission, the All China Women’s Federation, and the Ministry of Justice. In the afternoon, she will meet the staff of UN agencies in Beijing.