COERCIVE ABORTION AND STERILISATION IN CHINA

Early day motion 369, tabled 7 November 2001 by Jim Dobbin (Labour/Co-operative). Signed by 7 members.

That this House notes the remarks of Nafis Sadiq, the former executive director of UNFPA (United Nations Population Fund) that China has every reason to feel proud and pleased with its remarkable achievements in family planning policy and that now China could offer its experience and special experts to other countries; further notes the remarks of Thoraya Obaid, the new head of UNFPA, that China, having adopted practical measures in accordance with the current situation, has scored remarkable achievements in population; further notes that these remarks contradict directly the conclusions reached by Catherine Baber of Amnesty International, following investigations into population control in China, that Amnesty International was especially worried about people being put into detention to put pressure on pregnant relatives to undergo forced abortions and that as far as they were concerned this amounted to torture; and therefore calls upon Her Majesty's Government to end its support for UNFPA in those areas where it remains complicit in forced abortions and compulsory sterilisation.

Signatures by party: Labour 4, Conservative 1, Labour/Co-operative 1, UUP 1.