H.Con.Res. 73 – China/Olympics, 2001

The resolution quotes the Department of State’s 2000 Human Rights Report descriptions of human rights abuses, noting that “The Government continued to restrict freedom of religion and intensified controls on some unregistered churches;” calls for the creation of an international “Beijing Olympic Games Human Rights Campaign,” which would focus on pressuring China to release all political prisoners and to ratify the Covenant on Civil and Political Rights before the Games; calls on the Secretary of State to publicly endorse the campaign and promote it among our allies and others engaged in a human rights dialogue with China; requests that the President call for the same measures during his participation in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leader’s Summit this fall in Shanghai; and recommends that the Congressional-Executive Commission on China created by H.R. 4444 “devote significant resources to monitoring any violations of the rights of political dissidents and political prisoners, or other increased abuses of internationally-recognized human rights in the preparation to the 2008 Olympic Games and during the Olympic Games themselves.” (The Commission recommended in its 2001 Annual Report that China not be granted the Olympics until significant and sustained improvements are made in religious freedom and human rights there.)

H.CON.RES.73

Title: Expressing the sense of Congress that the 2008 Olympic Games should not be held in Beijing unless the Government of the People's Republic of China releases all political prisoners, ratifies the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and observes internationally recognized human rights.

Sponsor: Rep Lantos, Tom [CA-12] (introduced 3/21/2001)      Cosponsors (61)

Related Bills: S.CON.RES.27

Latest Major Action: 4/4/2001 Placed on the House Calendar, Calendar No. 14.

House Reports: 107-40

SUMMARY AS OF:
4/4/2001--Reported to House amended. 

Supports the open letter released by Chinese dissidents and families of political prisoners stating that the release of China's political prisoners would improve Beijing's stature in its bid to host the 2008 Olympic Games.

Expresses the view that the International Olympic Committee should not award the 2008 Olympics to Beijing unless the Government of the People's Republic of China releases all political prisoners, ratifies the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), implements the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, and observes internationally recognized human rights.

Calls for the creation of an international Beijing Olympic Games Human Rights Campaign in the event that Beijing receives the Olympics to focus international pressure on China to grant amnesty to all political prisoners before the Olympics commence. Calls on the Secretary of State to endorse publicly the Campaign and to encourage other nations to endorse and support the Campaign.

Requests the President, during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Leaders Summit, to call for the release of all Chinese political prisoners and Chinese ratification of the ICCPR.

Recommends that the Congressional-Executive Commission on the People's Republic of China devote significant resources to monitoring any violations of the rights of political dissidents and prisoners or other increased human rights abuses in preparation for and during the 2008 Olympic Games.

Original source: http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d107:HC00073:@@@L&summ2=m&