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S.R. 3

             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.




Legislative Review Note
    as of 1-12-06 2:53 PM


Based on a limited legal review, this legislation has not been determined to have a high
probability of being held unconstitutional.

Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel


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