Supporting Human Rights is Not Anti-APEC
Monday, 3 September 2007
With 21 world leaders set to discuss issues of trade and economics at the Sydney APEC Summit, international human rights must be pushed into the APEC agenda.
On Wednesday 5 September from 6pm to 9pm, The Rev. the Hon. Dr. Gordon Moyes, A.C. M.L.C., will be hosting a free public forum on “Balancing the scales with China” at Parliament House. International experts such as The Hon. David Kilgour, Esq. (Former Crown Prosecutor and Member of Canadian Parliament for 26 years), Dr Wang Juntao (Political Scientist and key Chinese pro-democracy figure), Mr David Matas, Esq. (Renowned Canadian Human Rights lawyer, Senior Legal Counsel and accomplished writer), Mr Erping Zhang (Executive Director of the Association for Asian Research USA), and Dr Elliott Fan (Research Fellow from Australian National University) will discuss current issues that have global repercussions.
Australia and the world are looking to China with both excitement and fear. Financial anticipation is tied to the boom of the Chinese economy, yet quality of consumer goods, an increasing military build-up and unceasing reports of human rights abuse are a range of growing concerns. The need to understand China, economically, socially, and politically is becoming essential for a growing number of Australians.
Rev. Dr. Gordon Moyes, a NSW Upper House Member and long-time campaigner of human rights, said, “This forum is available to all members of the public and is not in opposition to APEC. Rather, it is an opportunity to raise issues that are not – but should be – on the APEC agenda. China is Australia’s biggest trading partner and their human rights record should be addressed at this time. This is an opportunity to give voice to those who are persecuted and denied the basic human rights in China. If Australia is serious about upholding the Universal Declaration of Human Rights we should use this opportunity”.
International expert speakers will present issues of human rights abuse occurring in China today. The range of speakers and issues shows us just how widespread the abuse is and how many different groups and individuals are affected.
“The event is no way anti-APEC. World leaders will be in the CBD discussing issues such as Climate Change, the Doha trade agenda, and international mobility of labour among other issues. We believe that human rights should be on the agenda. This public forum is a chance to discuss important universal values such as human rights and to protest against the escalation of violence and fear in order to restore and protect the principles of democracy and human rights especially to our largest trading partner”, Dr Moyes said.
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