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H.R. 10 Enrolled

                 

RESOLUTION SUPPORTING PARTICIPATION

                 
OF TAIWAN IN WORLD HEALTH

                 
ORGANIZATION

                 
2005 GENERAL SESSION

                 
STATE OF UTAH

                 
Chief Sponsor: Bradley G. Last

                 
                  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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