EU urged to press China on human rights ahead of visit

Commission president José Manuel Barroso has been urged to use his trip to Beijing this week to help “effect change” on China’s human rights policy.

Barroso and nine other commissioners head to China on Thursday for a two-day visit and Amnesty International has pressed him to take up the topic as part of their discussions.

“Such a high-level visit 100 days before the start of the Olympics is a crucial opportunity to press the Chinese government to change its tactics,” said Natalia Alonso, deputy director of the charity’s EU office.

“The EU’s commitment to include human rights concerns in all its policies is at stake,” she added.

Alonso warned that the success of the high-profile mission “depends on real improvements” in the human rights situation in China.

“This is likely to be the last chance for the commission to use its leverage at top level ahead of the Olympics to effect change on human rights. It must prove that it is serious about taking all opportunities to raise human rights concerns with third countries.”

She said the visit should also “set the tone” for a “frank and meaningful” discussion at the EU-China human rights dialogue in three weeks.

“More than 15 rounds of these dialogues have failed to bring China’s national human rights policies and practices in line with international law. The Chinese government has also not delivered on its promises to improve the situation ahead of the Olympics.

“The situation in Tibet is the latest illustration of what is wrong with human rights in China,” she said.

“Barroso has said he will raise matters concerning human rights with the Chinese authorities.

“But if this high-level visit is to have a meaningful impact on human rights in China, Barroso should obtain a commitment that the Chinese government will take concrete and immediate action with regard to key areas of concern.”

Amnesty also says that one priority should be to secure a guarantee on freedom of movement and reporting for both domestic and foreign journalists during and after the Olympics. Another is that the crackdown on activists raising human rights concerns associated with the Olympics should stop.

• Previous article
• Next article