B4-0744 and 0838/95

Resolution on the organisation by the Chinese Government of the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing

The European Parliament,

A. recognising the importance of the UN Fourth Conference on Women to be held in Beijing in September 1995,

B. stressing that the emancipation of women is inseparably linked to the struggle for the promotion and defence of human rights and that economic and political rights are integral to these human rights, and stressing also that women are the driving force behind peace and the future development of mankind,

C. recognising the important role played by NGOs at conferences of this kind, the high qualifications of the NGOs accredited to this Conference and the fact that this important role has been acknowledged by the UN,

D. shocked by reports that Taiwanese and Tibetan women will not be allowed to take part,

E. shocked by reports that groups with views which do not coincide with those of the Chinese Government, such as lesbian groups and local Chinese groups, will be excluded,

F. gravely concerned at the reported decision of the Chinese authorities to place the NGO Forum far away from the World Conference, on a site that does not have a meeting place able to hold more than 1700 people, although 40,000 participants are expected,

G. gravely concerned that telecommunications, hotel, interpretation, translation and transport facilities seem utterly inadequate for a conference of this kind and scale,

H. gravely concerned at reports of strict customs procedures and controls with regard to the import of written and audiovisual materials by participants of both conferences,

The European Parliament,

1. Calls on the Chinese Government to allow women from Taiwan and Tibet who are accredited to NGOs to attend the conference;

2. Urges the Chinese Government to guarantee freedom of speech and press and to lift any exclusion of categories of women because of their views, origin or sexual orientation;

3. Urges the Chinese Government to relocate the NGO Forum at a site close enough to the official conference to allow easy communication between the two and to provide the necessary facilities;

4. Calls on the Commission and the Council to use their influence to urge the Chinese Government and the UN Secretary-General to provide, as requested, adequate facilities and democratic procedures for holding this conference;

5. Warns that the exclusion of women because of their views, geographical origin or sexual orientation will confirm the image of the repressive character of the Chinese regime;

6. Points out that if the effectiveness of the conference is reduced by the obstacles placed in the way of NGOs, no further UN conferences should be held in China in the future;

7. Calls on the Commission and the Council to consider supporting a move of both the official and NGO conferences to a proposed venue in Australia if China fails to respond to the requests;

8. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Commission, the Council, the Council of Europe, the governments of the Member States, the Secretary-General of the UN, the special advisory group for the UN Secretary-General, and the Government of the People's Republic of China.