S.R. 3 Enrolled

1

RESOLUTION URGING PARTICIPATION BY
2 TAIWAN IN WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION
3 2006 GENERAL SESSION
4 STATE OF UTAH
5 Chief Sponsor: Curtis S. Bramble
6 Cosponsors:
7 Patrice M. Arent
8 Gregory S. Bell
9 D. Chris Buttars
10 Allen M. Christensen
11 Gene Davis
12 Mike Dmitrich
13 Dan R. Eastman
14 Beverly Ann Evans
15 Fred J. FifeBrent H. Goodfellow
Karen Hale
Thomas V. Hatch
Parley G. Hellewell
John W. Hickman
Lyle W. Hillyard
Scott K. Jenkins
Sheldon L. Killpack
Peter C. Knudson
Mark B. MadsenL. Alma Mansell
Ed Mayne
Scott D. McCoy
Darin G. Peterson
Howard A. Stephenson
David L. Thomas
John L. Valentine
Michael G. Waddoups
Carlene M. Walker 16
17 LONG TITLE
18 General Description:
19 This resolution of the Senate urges the Bush Administration to support Taiwan's
20 participation in the World Health Organization.
21 Highlighted Provisions:
22 This resolution:
23 . urges the Bush Administration to support Taiwan in obtaining appropriate and
24 meaningful participation in the World Health Organization (WHO); and
25 . urges that United States' policy should include the pursuit of an initiative in the
26 WHO which will give Taiwan meaningful participation in the manner that is
27 consistent with the organization's requirements.
28 Special Clauses:
29 None
30
31 Be it resolved by the Senate of the state of Utah:
32 WHEREAS, the World Health Organization's (WHO) Constitution states that "The

33 objective of the World Health Organization shall be the attainment by all peoples of the highest
34 possible level of health";
35 WHEREAS, this position demonstrates that the WHO is obligated to reach all peoples
36 throughout the world, regardless of state or national boundaries;
37 WHEREAS, the WHO Constitution permits a wide variety of entities, including
38 nonmember states, international organizations, national organizations, and nongovernmental
39 organizations, to participate in the activities of the WHO;
40 WHEREAS, five entities, for example, have acquired the status of observer of the
41 World Health Assembly (WHA) and are routinely invited to its assemblies;
42 WHEREAS, both the WHO Constitution and the International Covenant of Economic,
43 Social, and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) declare that health is an essential element of human
44 rights and that no signatory shall impede on the health rights of others;
45 WHEREAS, Taiwan seeks to be invited to participate in the work of the WHA simply
46 as an observer, instead of as a full member, in order to allow the work of the WHO to proceed
47 without creating political frictions and to demonstrate Taiwan's willingness to put aside
48 political controversies for the common good of global health;
49 WHEREAS, this request is fundamentally based on professional health grounds and has
50 nothing to do with the political issues of sovereignty and statehood;
51 WHEREAS, Taiwan currently participates as a full member in organizations like the
52 World Trade Organization (WTO), Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), and several
53 other international organizations that count the People's Republic of China among their
54 membership;
55 WHEREAS, Taiwan has become an asset to all these institutions because of a flexible
56 interpretation of the terms of membership;
57 WHEREAS, closing the gap between the WHO and Taiwan is an urgent global health
58 imperative;
59 WHEREAS, the health administration of Taiwan is the only competent body possessing
60 and managing all the information on any outbreak in Taiwan of epidemics that could

61 potentially threaten global health;
62 WHEREAS, excluding Taiwan from the WHO's Global Outbreak Alert and Response
63 Network (GOARN), for example, is dangerous and self defeating from a professional
64 perspective;
65 WHEREAS, good health is a basic right for every citizen of the world and access to the
66 highest standard of health information and services is necessary to help guarantee this right;
67 WHEREAS, direct and unobstructed participation in international health cooperation
68 forums and programs is therefore crucial, especially with today's greater potential for the
69 cross-border spread of various infectious diseases through increased trade and travel;
70 WHEREAS, the WHO sets forth in the first chapter of its charter the objectives of
71 attaining the highest possible level of health for all people;
72 WHEREAS, Taiwan's population of 23 million people is larger than that of three
73 quarters of the member states already in the WHO and shares the noble goals of the
74 organization;
75 WHEREAS, Taiwan's achievements in the field of health are substantial, including one
76 of the highest life expectancy levels in Asia, maternal and infant mortality rates comparable to
77 those in western countries, the eradication of such infectious diseases as cholera, smallpox, and
78 the plague, and the first country in the world to provide children with free hepatitis B
79 vaccinations;
80 WHEREAS, Taiwan is not allowed to participate in any WHO-organized forums and
81 workshops concerning the latest technologies in the diagnosis, monitoring, and control of
82 diseases;
83 WHEREAS, in recent years, both the Taiwanese Government and individual Taiwanese
84 experts have expressed a willingness to assist financially or technically in WHO-supported
85 international aid and health activities, but have ultimately been unable to render assistance;
86 WHEREAS, the WHO does allow observers to participate in the activities of the
87 organization; and
88 WHEREAS, in light of all the benefits that participation could bring to the state of

89 health of people not only in Taiwan, but also regionally and globally, it seems appropriate, if
90 not imperative, for Taiwan to be involved with the WHO:
91 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the state of Utah urges the
92 Bush Administration to support Taiwan and its 23 million people in obtaining appropriate and
93 meaningful participation in the World Health Organization (WHO).
94 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Senate urges that United States' policy should
95 include the pursuit of some initiative in the WHO which would give Taiwan meaningful
96 participation in a manner that is consistent with the organization's requirements.
97 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be sent to the President of
98 the United States, the United States Secretary of State, the Secretary of Health and Human
99 Services, the Majority Leader of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States
100 House of Representatives, the members of Utah's congressional delegation, the Government of
101 Taiwan, and the World Health Organization.