FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 18, 2004

Contact:
Anne Johnson, Director of Communications, (202) 523-3240, ext. 27

WASHINGTON - Preeta D. Bansal, Chair of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), testified today on Capitol Hill at a hearing held by the Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC). The hearing, "Religious Freedom in China," examined the current situation with respect to Chinese government repression of religion and belief. This hearing was particularly timely, as U.S. officials are in Beijing discussing a resumption of our human rights dialogue and President Bush will meet with Chinese President Hu Jintao at the APEC Leaders' Summit this weekend. The full text of Commissioner Bansal's testimony may be found on USCIRF's Web site in either PDF or HTML format.

"Advancing the freedom of religion and belief cannot be considered a marginal or ‘soft' issue, but is foundational to a whole range of U.S. interests. Respect for the freedom of thought, conscience, religion, and belief is a critical indicator of stable trading partners, stable allies, and stable regions," said USCIRF Chair Preeta D. Bansal. "The government of China does not treat religion as a side issue, but views religious adherents, religious communities, and religious leaders through the lens of security. The United States should not ignore this fact and should fashion policies and actions that integrate the right of thought, conscience, religion, and belief with security and economic interests."

As part of its testimony, the Commission issued specific recommendations for U.S. policy. Commission recommendations include:

• Strengthen bilateral human rights dialogues with China through Congressional oversight.

• Advance a multilateral resolution at the UN Commission on Human Rights and work for its passage at appropriate and high official levels.

• Organize regular meetings of involved nations to coordinate technical cooperation and capacity building programs in China.

• Fund new legal reform and rule-of-law programs to advance religious freedom and related human rights.

• As required by International Religious Freedom Act (IRFA), review all U.S. foreign aid funding and public diplomacy programs for China to include the promotion and protection of religious freedom.

• Establish an official presence in Xinjiang and Tibet.

• Provide incentives for U.S. businesses to promote human rights in China.

The Commission twice had to cancel planned visits to China in 2003 due to unacceptable limits imposed on the Commission's itinerary by the Chinese government. The Commission visited Hong Kong in 2004, but continues to seek a visit to Mainland China.

Commissioner Bansal's testimony is available on our home page under Congressional Testimony.

The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom was created by the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 to monitor the status of freedom of thought, conscience, and religion or belief abroad, as defined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and related international instruments, and to give independent policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State and the Congress.

Preeta D. Bansal, Chair

• Felice D. Gaer, Vice Chair Nina Shea,Vice Chair Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, Michael Cromartie, Khaled Abou El Fadl, Elizabeth H. Prodromou, Bishop Ricardo Ramirez, Michael K. Young, Ambassador John V. Hanford III, Ex-Officio Joseph R. Crapa, Executive Director

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 12, 2004

Contact:
Anne Johnson, Director of Communications, (202) 523-3240 (202) 523-3240, ext. 27

WASHINGTON - Members of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) met recently in New York with Ms. Asma Jahangir, the Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief to the United Nations Commission on Human Rights. Commissioners discussed with the UN Special Rapporteur countries and thematic issues of mutual concern. Ms. Jahangir was appointed Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief by the United Nations Commission on Human Rights in July 2004 and replaced Abdelfattah Amor.

Commissioners and policy staff had a productive exchange with Ms. Jahangir about countries USCIRF has designated as CPC and Watch List countries based on their religious freedom records. Commissioners also discussed with the Special Rapporteur mutual opportunities to further freedom of thought, conscience, religion and belief throughout the world. They discussed the need to protect such freedoms within individual rights frameworks and national constitutions, and to protect the rights of belief and conscience for all individuals to dissent within their respective traditions.

USCIRF Chair Preeta D. Bansal said, "We look forward to sharing information and insights with the UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief in order to help protect individuals from violations of their internationally recognized human rights, and to promote compliance with the international norms in our respective mandates."

The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom was created by the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 to monitor the status of freedom of thought, conscience, and religion or belief abroad, as defined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and related international instruments, and to give independent policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State and the Congress.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 9, 2004

Contact:
Anne Johnson, Director of Communications, (202) 523-3240, ext. 27

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today on Capitol Hill held its first China Human Rights Forum titled Talking with China about Human Rights: Assessing the Future of Bilateral Human Rights Dialogues. The United States and China are currently negotiating a resumption of their bilateral human rights dialogue. The European Union, Canada, and Australia are all reviewing the effectiveness of their bilateral human rights dialogues. The Forum was convened at this opportune time in order to assess bilateral dialogues with China from an international perspective and to discuss their efficacy, as well as ways to improve and more thoroughly coordinate the various bilateral and multilateral dialogues in the future.

"Forum participants offered recommendations about the future of bilateral human rights dialogues and ways, if any, that they can be improved. Participants discussed problems and shared new approaches and best practices from around the globe," said USCIRF Chair Preeta D. Bansal.

The Commission's China Human Rights Forum was created to bring together U.S. government officials, international and academic experts, NGO representatives, and human rights activists for off-the-record discussions on human rights and U.S.-China relations. In past years the Commission has held China Religion Roundtables on Xinjiang and on U.S. policy to promote religious freedom in China. Forums seek to ensure that religious freedom goals are well integrated into the programs of government agencies and regional and international institutions to which both the United States and China belong.

The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom was created by the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 to monitor the status of freedom of thought, conscience, and religion or belief abroad, as defined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and related international instruments, and to give independent policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State and the Congress.

Preeta D. Bansal, Chair

• Felice D. Gaer, Vice Chair Nina Shea,Vice Chair Archbishop Charles J. ChaputMichael CromartieKhaled Abou El FadlElizabeth H. ProdromouBishop Ricardo RamirezMichael K. YoungAmbassador John V. Hanford III,Ex-Officio Joseph R. Crapa, Executive Director