S.C.R. 4 Enrolled

1

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION URGING
2 PARTICIPATION BY TAIWAN IN WORLD
3 HEALTH ORGANIZATION
4 2007 GENERAL SESSION
5 STATE OF UTAH
6 Chief Sponsor: Curtis S. Bramble
7 House Sponsor: David Clark
8 Cosponsors:
9 Gregory S. Bell
10 D. Chris Buttars
11 Allen M. Christensen
12 Gene Davis
13 Margaret Dayton
14 Mike Dmitrich
15 Dan R. Eastman
16 Fred J. Fife
17 Brent H. GoodfellowJon J. Greiner
John W. Hickman
Lyle W. Hillyard
Scott K. Jenkins
Patricia W. Jones
Sheldon L. Killpack
Peter C. Knudson
Mark B. Madsen
Ed Mayne
Scott D. McCoyWayne L. Niederhauser
Darin G. Peterson
Ross I. Romero
Howard A. Stephenson
Dennis E. Stowell
John L. Valentine
Kevin T. VanTassell
Michael G. Waddoups
Carlene M. Walker 18
19 LONG TITLE
20 General Description:
21 This concurrent resolution of the Legislature and the Governor urges the Bush
22 Administration to support Taiwan's participation in the World Health Organization.
23 Highlighted Provisions:
24 This resolution:
25 . urges the Bush Administration to support Taiwan in obtaining appropriate and
26 meaningful participation in the World Health Organization (WHO); and
27 . urges that United States' policy should include the pursuit of an initiative in the
28 WHO which will give Taiwan meaningful participation in the manner that is
29 consistent with the organization's requirements.
30 Special Clauses:
31 None
32

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

61 and managing all the information on any outbreak in Taiwan of epidemics that could
62 potentially threaten global health;
63 WHEREAS, excluding Taiwan from the WHO's Global Outbreak Alert and Response
64 Network, for example, is dangerous and self defeating from a professional 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 Legislature of the state of Utah, the
92 Governor concurring therein, urges the Bush Administration to support Taiwan and its 23
93 million people in obtaining appropriate and meaningful participation in the World Health
94 Organization.
95 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature and the Governor urges that United
96 States' policy should include the pursuit of some initiative in the World Health Organization
97 which would give Taiwan meaningful participation in a manner that is consistent with the
98 organization's requirements.
99 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be sent to the President of
100 the United States, the United States Secretary of State, the Secretary of Health and Human
101 Services, the majority leader of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States
102 House of Representatives, the members of Utah's congressional delegation, the Government of
103 Taiwan, and the World Health Organization.