Situation of children in orphanages in the People's Republic of China

 

Doc. 7559

15 May 1996

MOTION FOR A RECOMMENDATION

presented by Mrs TERBORG and others

This motion has not been discussed in the Assembly and commits only the members who have signed it

1.         In the light of as yet unaddressed reports on the situation of infants and young children, as well as adolescents, in Chinese orphanages and with regard to the high mortality rates of young children - uncontested by the People's Republic of China - the Assembly considers that the Council of Europe should propose the following initiatives to the People's Republic of China with a view to improving the physical and psychological conditions of children and any other actions to protect their lives:

            i. adequate  and appropriate provision of food and other vital supplies for infants and young children;         

            ii. provision of appropriate preventive medical care and continued medical examinations for the children during their stay in orphanages;

            iii. education and training of orphanage personnel and their supervisors on appropriate child care standards and norms;

            iv. verification of work performed by the orphanage personnel and their supervisors, as well as the rules and regulations for compliance by an independently working commission appointed by the government;

            v. comprehensive investigation of the causes of deaths in orphanages;

            vi. adoption of sanctions in cases of violation of the above-mentioned standards and norms outlined above.

2.         Despite alarming reports by the human rights organisation Human Rights Watch/Asia and numerous other publications, there have so far been no discernable improvements for the infants, young children and adolescents in Chinese orphanages. The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe should make every effort, through a dialogue between the Committee of Ministers and the People's Republic of China, to achieve fundamental human rights improvements in Chinese orphanages.

3.         The Assembly therefore considers it necessary to pay special attention to developments in Chinese orphanages, to assist the People's Republic of China by suggesting the implementation of corrective actions and to debate progress reports when appropriate.

4.         The Assembly also recommends that the Committee of Ministers:

            i. reach agreement with the People's Republic of China to enable a commission of the Council of Europe to verify the scope and nature of accusations regarding grievances in Chinese orphanages, the choice of orphanages to be reviewed should be determined solely by the commission;

            ii. propose to the People's Republic of China a special joint aid programme for assistance to Chinese orphanages;

            iii. submit within twelve months a progress report to the Assembly.

Signed[1]:

Terborg, Germany, SOC

Antretter, Germany, SOC

Benetatos, Greece, SOC

Blunck, Germany, SOC

Durrieu, France, SOC

Gjellerod, Denmark, SOC

Gross, Switzerland, SOC

Horn, Germany,  SOC

Luhtanen, Finland, SOC

Masseret, France, SOC

Micheloyiannis, Greece, SOC

Paasilinna, Finland, SOC

Ruffy, Switzerland, SOC

Scheer, Germany, SOC

Schloten, Germany, SOC

Schluckebier, Germany, SOC

Severin, Romania, SOC

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[1]               SOC : Socialist Group