We are writing you in advance of the next session of the EU/China dialogue, to take
place on 26 February 2004.
We know that the EU has the intention to assess its human rights dialogue with
China from the outset of the dialogue, and we welcome that move, which is indeed
essential in order to maximize the impact of that process on the human rights
situation in China. In order to feed that exercise, we have the pleasure to enclose our
own preliminary assessment of the dialogue.
Based on the EU-China Dialogue benchmarks announced in 2001, our assessment
also integrates a number of indicators developed by UN and other multilateral bodies
and international NGOs that focus on various areas, including governance, human
development, poverty, press freedom, and health. While we recognize the complexity
and challenges of the methodogical issues presented by any attempt to integrate a
cross-sectoral, cross-indicators assessment, we believe that existing and developing
indicators represent a rich field of expertise and thinking about how to ensure
accountability for measurable progress. Viewed as a whole, these existing indicators
from different recognised sources also evidence trends regarding the evolution of the
human rights situation on the ground.
In light of combined political and economic factors and actors that impact on China’s
human rights policies and practices, we recognize the dangers of making overly
simplistic causal connections and conclusions between the EU-China dialogue and
human rights progress on the ground. However, the human rights dialogue can and
must be made more effective, transparent, and relevant to improving the human
rights situation in China. We believe that these indicators provide useful assessment
tools, and their application will also contribute to the EU-China dialogue goal of
developing a more “results-oriented” process that produces “tangible improvements.”
From our preliminary assessment, which does not pretend to be exhaustive, and is
intended to be a call for further work and more rigorous analyses, we conclude that
only limited progress has been achieved by China since 1998. Systemic protections
for human rights are still weak and undermined by corruption, and lack of
transparency and independence in judicial and policy decision-making processes.
Independent voices of religious and cultural expression, democracy activism, workers
rights, or critical reporting are silenced by imprisonment, persecution, intimidation, or
death. China’s stance and position in relationship to UN human rights mechanisms
remains hostile and defensive which is not conducive to a cooperative and productive
relationship.
The FIDH and HRIC are also convinced that the human rights dialogue should be
part of an integrated strategy towards China, and be complemented by a multilayer
pressure for improvements of China’s record. The EU position at the CHR is one of
the places where this can and should be done, in order to give teeth to the dialogue.
On 10 February 2004, the European Parliament called on the EU to sponsor or cosponsor
a resolution on China at the CHR. We fully support that call.
We hope that our preliminary assessment will contribute usefully to the EU’s
assessment of the EU/China human rights dialogue and to the EU stance at the
forthcoming CHR.
Sincerely yours
Sidiki Kaba
FIDH President
Sharon Hom
Executive HRIC Director
Preliminary Assessment of the EU-China Human Rights Dialogue