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H.R. 10 Enrolled
LONG TITLE
General Description:
This resolution of the House of Representatives urges the Bush Administration to
support Taiwan's participation in the World Health Organization.
Highlighted Provisions:
This resolution:
. urges the Bush Administration to support Taiwan in obtaining appropriate and
meaningful participation in the World Health Organization (WHO); and
. urges that United States' policy should include the pursuit of an initiative in the
WHO which will give Taiwan meaningful participation in the manner that is
consistent with the organization's requirements.
Special Clauses:
None
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives of the state of Utah:
WHEREAS, the World Health Organization's (WHO) Constitution states that "The
objective of the World Health Organization shall be the attainment by all peoples of the highest
possible level of health";
WHEREAS, this position demonstrates that the WHO is obligated to reach all peoples
throughout the world, regardless of state or national boundaries;
WHEREAS, the WHO Constitution permits a wide variety of entities, including
nonmember states, international organizations, national organizations, and nongovernmental
organizations, to participate in the activities of the WHO;
WHEREAS, five entities, for example, have acquired the status of observer of the World
Health Assembly (WHA) and are routinely invited to its assemblies;
WHEREAS, both the WHO Constitution and the International Covenant of Economic,
Social, and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) declare that health is an essential element of human rights
and that no signatory shall impede on the health rights of others;
WHEREAS, Taiwan seeks to be invited to participate in the work of the WHA simply as
an observer, instead of as a full member, in order to allow the work of the WHO to proceed
without creating political frictions and to demonstrate Taiwan's willingness to put aside political
controversies for the common good of global health;
WHEREAS, this request is fundamentally based on professional health grounds and has
nothing to do with the political issues of sovereignty and statehood;
WHEREAS, Taiwan currently participates as a full member in organizations like the
World Trade Organization (WTO), Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), and several
other international organizations that count the People's Republic of China among their
membership;
WHEREAS, Taiwan has become an asset to all these institutions because of a flexible
interpretation of the terms of membership;
WHEREAS, closing the gap between the WHO and Taiwan is an urgent global health
imperative;
WHEREAS, the health administration of Taiwan is the only competent body possessing
and managing all the information on any outbreak in Taiwan of epidemics that could potentially
threaten global health;
WHEREAS, excluding Taiwan from the WHO's Global Outbreak Alert and Response
Network (GOARN), for example, is dangerous and self defeating from a professional
perspective;
WHEREAS, good health is a basic right for every citizen of the world and access to the
highest standard of health information and services is necessary to help guarantee this right;
WHEREAS, direct and unobstructed participation in international health cooperation
forms and programs is therefore crucial, especially with today's greater potential for the
cross-border spread of various infectious diseases through increased trade and travel;
WHEREAS, the WHO sets forth in the first chapter of its charter the objectives of
attaining the highest possible level of health for all people;
WHEREAS, Taiwan's population of 23 million people is larger than that of three quarters
of the member states already in the WHO and shares the noble goals of the organization;
WHEREAS, Taiwan's achievements in the field of health are substantial, including one of
the highest life expectancy levels in Asia, maternal and infant mortality rates comparable to those
in western countries, the eradication of such infectious diseases as cholera, smallpox, and the
plague, and the first country in the world to provide children with free hepatitis B vaccinations;
WHEREAS, Taiwan is not allowed to participate in any WHO-organized forums and
workshops concerning the latest technologies in the diagnosis, monitoring, and control of
diseases;
WHEREAS, in recent years both the Taiwanese Government and individual Taiwanese
experts have expressed a willingness to assist financially or technically in WHO-supported
international aid and health activities, but have ultimately been unable to render assistance;
WHEREAS, the WHO does allow observers to participate in the activities of the
organization; and
WHEREAS, in light of all the benefits that participation could bring to the state of health
of people not only in Taiwan, but also regionally and globally it seems appropriate, if not
imperative, for Taiwan to be involved with the WHO:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the state
of Utah urges the Bush Administration to support Taiwan and its 23 million people in obtaining
appropriate and meaningful participation in the World Health Organization (WHO).
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the House of Representatives urges that United
States' policy should include the pursuit of some initiative in the WHO which would give Taiwan
meaningful participation in a manner that is consistent with the organization's requirements.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be sent to the President of
the United States, the United States Secretary of State, the Secretary of Health and Human
Services, the majority leader of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House
of Representatives, the members of Utah's congressional delegation, the Government of Taiwan,
and the World Health Organization.
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