Promoting Human Rights in China

Labour Youth recognises the continuing abuse of Human Rights in the Peoples' Republic of China. Since the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre of Human Rights and Pro-Democracy demonstrators there has been no substantial or realistic change in the Chinese government's attitudes towards Freedoms, Liberties or Democracy since then. The continued prosecution of Chinese citizens who call for their basic rights as outlined under the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights 1948 and the ongoing use of forced labour in re-education camps set up after the massacre of pro democracy demonstrators on Tiananmen Square in 1989 must end immediately.

Labour Youth is aware that the Chinese ambassador to Ireland has invited the Lord Mayor of Dublin, Michael Conaghan to consider the proposal for twinning the cities of Dublin with Beijing.

Labour Youth calls on the Lord Mayor Michael Conaghan and Labour Councilors on Dublin City Council to oppose any and all measures of the twinning of Dublin with Beijing until such a time that China is deemed to respect the universally accepted Human Rights, laid out by the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights 1948. Dublin should only be linked to the capital of a country where a stable and functioning democracy exists, free from corruption.

No to the lifting of the EU Arms Embargo on China

There is an initiative within the EU Commission and among EU countries with large military armament industries to lift the present Arms embargo that was placed on China after the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre by the EU.

Labour Youth declares that:
- We are fundamentally opposed to the trade of military armaments.
- Labour Youth believes China has not introduced any real reforms since the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre in the area of Human Rights and Democracy, yet the EU Embargo on the China is still being considered to be lifted.
- China's National Peoples' Congress has approved a law giving China the legal right to use force against Taiwan if the island attempts to secede. Such an aggressive move is reaffirms the apprehensions of Labour Youth about the true intentions of China's military aspirations in relation to Taiwan.

Labour Youth mandates the International Officer to:
- Raise the issue of the EU Embargo on the Sale and Supply of Military Armaments to China at a local, national and European level.
- Inform the officers of the Labour Party of the continuing Human Rights abuses in China, highlighting the importance that the embargo remains in place.

Labour Youth encourages the International Working Group to:
- Work toward the promotion of democracy and human rights in China by highlighting the continued abuses through direct contact with politicians, the media, through protest at visits of the Chinese government to Ireland and the EU and solidarity with Pro-Democracy/Human Rights groups in China and throughout the world.