After \221Remarkable Year\222 for Gender Equality

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

After \221Remarkable Year\222 for Gender Equality After ‘Remarkable Year’ for Gender Equality, Women’s Empowerment, ... http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2011/gashc4008.doc.htm 10 October 2011 General Assembly GA/SHC/4008 Department of Public Information • News and Media Division • New York Sixty-sixth General Assembly Third Committee 9th & 10 th Meetings (AM & PM) AFTER ‘REMARKABLE YEAR’ FOR GENDER EQUALITY, WOMEN’S EMPOWERMENT, MOMENTUM MUST BE TURNED INTO TANGIBLE GAINS FOR WOMEN, GIRLS EVERYWHERE, THIRD COMMITTEE TOLD UN-Women’s Deputy Executive Director: ‘We Are Moving in the Right Direction’; Special Rapporteur on Violence, Chair of Anti-Discrimination Committee Also Speak Following a remarkable year in the promotion of gender equality and women’s empowerment that was marked by the establishment of UN-Women and the launch of the Secretary-General’s Global Strategy for Women’s and Children’s Health, it was now time to turn the momentum generated in 2010 into clear, tangible gains for women and girls everywhere, the Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural) was told today. Speaking at the start of the Committee’s three-day discussion on the advancement of women, Lakshmi Puri, Assistant Secretary-General and Deputy Executive Director, Intergovernmental Support and Strategic Partnerships Bureau of UN-Women, said those landmark events had strengthened global resolve to close the persistent gaps between commitments and women’s daily realities, between women’s rights in the law and their enjoyment of those rights in practice, and between existing empowerment policies and women’s actual well-being and security. “We have many good indications that we are moving in the right directions,” she stressed, noting that, during the General Assembly’s annual debate last month, world leaders had signed on to a joint statement on advancing women’s political participation and UN-Women was committed to translating it into concrete results. “UN-Women stands beside women around the world who are demanding that their voice be heard and they have equal participation in decision-making.” Outlining UN-Women’s work, she said progress had been made in its institutional consolidation, including the alignment of staff resources. As attention turned to boosting its field presence, significant efforts were being made to position UN-Women as a catalyst for change. At the same time, however, the women-focused entity continued to struggle to identify the funding required for its full start up. “One year after its establishment, UN-Women is seriously under-resourced, hampering our ability to deliver on the expectations of stakeholders,” she said, appealing for support from Member States in order to deliver prompt, concrete results. Pressed by the Kenyan delegation, on behalf of the African Group, to detail what its leadership was doing to secure the needed funds, Ms. Puri said it was not only approaching traditional donors, but asking them to prioritize UN-Women for the next two years as it built up its foundational capacity. Appeals were also being made to non-traditional and emerging country donors, as well as the private sector and foundations. She further encouraged Member States to prioritize gender equality and women’s empowerment in their bilateral aid negotiations since this would allow for aid to be made available at the country level. 1 of 20 10/11/2011 11:21 AM After ‘Remarkable Year’ for Gender Equality, Women’s Empowerment, ... http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2011/gashc4008.doc.htm Presenting two reports of the Secretary-General on migrant women workers and women in rural areas, she also stressed that specific and targeted policy responses must be crafted both to empower those two groups of women and to prevent discrimination against them. States and United Nations entities had been active in setting up measures to empower rural women and women migrant workers, but there was a dearth of knowledge on the impact of such initiatives. Further, current approaches were both general and ad hoc, which meant they lacked the targeted and systematic nature needed to make a dramatic difference in the lives of those women. Outlining her first written report to the General Assembly under the terms of resolution 65/187, Rashida Manjoo, Special Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes and consequences, said it was clear that the investigation, prosecution, protection and redress measures for women victims of violence directly affected the prevalence rates of such violence. To prevent future violence, States should address structural discrimination and ensure women’s empowerment, while committing the same efforts and resources to addressing violence against women that they committed to curbing other forms of violence. States also needed to consider the specificities of violence against women in order to recognize the diverse kinds of oppression faced by women. Stressing that violence against women was not the root problem, she said it occurred because other forms of discrimination were allowed to flourish. Indeed, if a woman experienced violence at home and was then denied security and protection by the legal system, she was encountering multiple forms of violence. In that context, efforts to end all forms of violence against women must consider how structures of discrimination and inequality perpetuated and exacerbated a victim’s realties. “Interventions that seek to only ameliorate the abuse, and which do not factor in women’s realities, are not challenging the fundamental gender inequalities and discrimination that contribute to the abuse in the first place,” she said, calling for a holistic approach to eliminating all forms of violence against all women that addressed inequality and discrimination among women, as well as between women and men. She also described for the Committee the results of the visits she made to Algeria, Zambia and the United States this year as part of her mandate. Silvia Pimentel, Chair of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, presented the Secretary-General’s report on the status of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. Noting that 187 States were now party to that international instrument, she said it was now just seven Parties short of universal ratification and called on those seven States — Iran, Palau, Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan, Tonga and the United States — to undertake the necessary domestic procedures to ratify or accede expeditiously, thereby joining the global consensus that women’s rights were human rights. During the ensuing debate, delegations called for States and the United Nations system to do more to protect the rights of women to participate on equal terms during all phases of political transitions, as well as during peace negotiations. Several speakers also drew a direct a connections between women’s economic advancement and their empowerment. Norway’s representative stressed that gender equality could not be a side-activity or extra programme, but had to be mainstreamed into all development processes. Arguing the corollary on behalf of the Arab Group, Qatar’s representative stressed that any development strategy that did not address the advancement of women was destined to fail. Speaking on behalf of the African Group, Kenya’s representative called for more efforts to be directed towards the empowerment of rural women. “The role of rural women in Africa is central to social and economic development. It is, therefore, difficult to achieve societal transformation without their productive participation,” he said. Also offering comments today were the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development for Nigeria and the Minister for Community Development, Gender and Children of the United Republic of Tanzania (on behalf of the Southern African Development Community). 2 of 20 10/11/2011 11:21 AM After ‘Remarkable Year’ for Gender Equality, Women’s Empowerment, ... http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2011/gashc4008.doc.htm The representatives of Argentina (also on behalf of the Group of 77 and China), Guyana (on behalf of Caribbean Community), Malaysia (on behalf of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations), Chile (also on behalf of the Rio Group), Liechtenstein, Senegal, United States, Thailand, Nicaragua, China, Egypt, Kazakhstan, Mexico, Brazil, Switzerland, Russian Federation, Libya, Japan, Cuba, Israel and the Netherlands also spoke. Also participating in today’s question and answer sessions were representatives of Kenya (on behalf of the African Group), Algeria, Zambia, Australia, the United States, Liechtenstein, Niger, the European Union, Cameroon, Benin, Sierra Leone, Costa Rica, Sweden (on behalf of Nordic countries) and Timor-Leste. The Third Committee will reconvene at 10 a.m. Tuesday, 11 October, to hear the introduction of draft resolutions related to social development and to continue its discussion of the advancement of women. Background The Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural) met today to begin its general discussion on the advancement of women. The Committee had before it the report of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (document A/66/38 Supplement No. 38), which summarizes that body’s work. It covers the forty-sixth session, held from 12 to 30 July 2010 at United Nations Headquarters, as well as its forty- seventh and forty-eighth sessions, held from 4 to 22 October 2010 and from 17 January to 4 February 2011 in Geneva. The Secretary-General’s report on the status of the Convention on the Elimination of All
Recommended publications
  • Authors' Bios
    AUTHORS’ BIOGRAPHY: Ganesh N Devy was educated at Shivaji University, Kolhapur and the University of Leeds, UK. Among his many academic assignments, he held fellowships at Leeds University and Yale University and has been THB Symons Fellow (1991-92) and Jawaharlal Nehru Fellow (1994–96). He was a Professor of English at the Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda from 1980 to 96. In 1996, he gave up his academic career in order to initiate work with the Denotified and Nomadic Tribes (DNT) and Adivasis. During this work, he created the Bhasha Research and Publication Centre at Baroda, the Adivasis Academy at Tejgadh, the DNT- Rights Action Group and several other initiatives. Later he initiated the largest-ever survey of languages in history, carried out with the help of nearly 3000 volunteers and published in 50 multilingual volumes. He is a thinker, cultural activist and an institution builder, best known for the People's Linguistic Survey of India and the Adivasi Academy created by him. He is credited to start the Bhaashaa research and Publication Centre. He writes in three languages—Marathi, Gujarati and English. His first full length book in English After Amnesia (1992) was hailed immediately upon its publication as a classic in literary theory. Since its publication, he has written and edited close to ninety influential books in areas as diverse as Literary Criticism, Anthropology, Education, Linguistics and Philosophy. Lakshmi Puri is a former Assistant Secretary-General at the United Nations and the former Deputy Executive Director of UN Women. She was Director of the flagship International Trade division and the acting Deputy Secretary-General of United Nations Conference on Trade and Development.
    [Show full text]
  • European Development Days
    2006 European Development Days 8 years of policy debates from the European Consensus to the post-2015 agenda /1 3 European Development Days 2006-2013 Eight years of policy debates from the European Consensus to the post-2015 agenda Europe Direct is a service to help you find answers to your questions about the European Union. Freephone number (*): 00 800 6 7 8 9 10 11 (*) Certain mobile telephone operators do not allow access to 00 800 numbers or these calls may be billed. More information on the European Union is available on the Internet (http://europa.eu). Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union, 2014 Paper version ISBN 978-92-79-38970-2 doi: 10.2841/47722 PDF ISBN 978-92-79-38969-6 doi: 10.2841/47692 © European Union, 2014 Reproduction is authorised provided the source is acknowledged. Printed in Belgium Printed on elemental chlorine-free bleached paper (ECF) European Development Days 2006-2013 Eight years of policy debates from the European Consensus to the post-2015 agenda Forward by José Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission. This book has been published by the European Commission's Directorate-General for Development and Cooperation - EuropeAid in August 2014. European Commission FOREWORD by JOSÉ MANUEL BARROSO President of the European Commission I have always passionately believed in a Europe that I fought hard to preserve our high aid levels in our is open; a Europe that is committed to the values of multi-annual budget 2014-2020. In addition, my freedom, development and global solidarity. These Commission has stepped up special measures for the values have been central to the European project poorest, like the EUR 1 billion Food Facility or our ever since its inception and continue to inspire our strong support for the United Nation's Sustainable Union today.
    [Show full text]
  • MEDIA RELEASE June 26, 2017 CHINA RELEASES 2010 NOBEL
    MEDIA RELEASE June 26, 2017 CHINA RELEASES 2010 NOBEL PEACE PRIZE LAUREATE AND FREEDOM NOW CLIENT LIU XIAOBO ON MEDICAL PAROLE Liu reportedly has terminal liver cancer; he and his wife Liu Xia must immediately be given access to counsel and international community Washington, D.C. – Liu Xiaobo, China’s most prominent dissident and recipient of the 2010 Nobel Peace Prize, has been released on medical parole after he was diagnosed with terminal liver cancer. Dr. Liu is receiving treatment in the north-eastern city of Shenyang after receiving the diagnosis in May, according to his local lawyers. “We are grateful for Dr. Liu’s release, but are deeply disturbed by the circumstances under which the Chinese government granted him parole,” said Jared Genser, Founder of Freedom Now and pro bono international counsel to Liu Xiaobo and Liu Xia since mid-2010. “It is unconscionable that the government neglected Dr. Liu’s health, despite repeated calls from the international community to ensure proper care. The Chinese authorities must provide Liu Xiaobo open access to his counsel and to the international community so that his wishes at this difficult time can be ascertained and honored,” he added. Liu Xiaobo is a scholar and pro-democracy activist imprisoned for his role in drafting Charter 08, a political manifesto that calls for increased rule of law, greater respect for human rights, and the end to one-party rule in China. The Chinese government detained Dr. Liu on December 8, 2008 — two days before the official release of Charter 08. The government held him in solitary confinement and denied him access to his lawyers.
    [Show full text]
  • Dr. Liu Was the Recipient of the 2010 Nobel Peace Prize
    Honorary Co-Chairs The Honorable Václav Havel The Most Reverend Desmond M. Tutu MEDIA RELEASE For Immediate Release Contact: Beth Schwanke +1 (202) 617-0744 (Print/Radio/Other) [email protected] Maran Turner +1 (646) 596-5064 (TV – In London, UK) [email protected] FREEDOM NOW CLIENT LIU XIAOBO SELECTED AS 2010 RECIPIENT OF NOBEL PEACE PRIZE STATEMENT FROM LIU XIAOBO’S WIFE, LIU XIA October 8, 2010 I am grateful to the Nobel Committee for selecting my husband, Liu Xiaobo, to be the recipient of the 2010 Nobel Peace Prize. It is a true honor for him and one for which I know he would say he is not worthy. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to former Czech Republic President Václav Havel, His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Archbishop Desmond M. Tutu, and so many others who courageously nominated him for the Prize. I hope that the international community will take this opportunity to call on the Chinese government to press for my husband’s release. As the Committee recognized, China’s new status in the world comes with increased responsibility. China should embrace this responsibility, have pride in his selection, and release him from prison. BACKGROUND Liu Xiaobo is a Chinese scholar and democracy activist who was sentenced to 11 years in prison for “inciting subversion of state power” on December 25, 2009, for his role in drafting Charter 08. The Chinese government previously detained Dr. Liu for his peaceful democracy advocacy on four occasions, including his participation in the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests.
    [Show full text]
  • China's Fear of Contagion
    China’s Fear of Contagion China’s Fear of M.E. Sarotte Contagion Tiananmen Square and the Power of the European Example For the leaders of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), erasing the memory of the June 4, 1989, Tiananmen Square massacre remains a full-time job. The party aggressively monitors and restricts media and internet commentary about the event. As Sinologist Jean-Philippe Béja has put it, during the last two decades it has not been possible “even so much as to mention the conjoined Chinese characters for 6 and 4” in web searches, so dissident postings refer instead to the imagi- nary date of May 35.1 Party censors make it “inconceivable for scholars to ac- cess Chinese archival sources” on Tiananmen, according to historian Chen Jian, and do not permit schoolchildren to study the topic; 1989 remains a “‘for- bidden zone’ in the press, scholarship, and classroom teaching.”2 The party still detains some of those who took part in the protest and does not allow oth- ers to leave the country.3 And every June 4, the CCP seeks to prevent any form of remembrance with detentions and a show of force by the pervasive Chinese security apparatus. The result, according to expert Perry Link, is that in to- M.E. Sarotte, the author of 1989: The Struggle to Create Post–Cold War Europe, is Professor of History and of International Relations at the University of Southern California. The author wishes to thank Harvard University’s Center for European Studies, the Humboldt Foundation, the Institute for Advanced Study, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the University of Southern California for ªnancial and institutional support; Joseph Torigian for invaluable criticism, research assistance, and Chinese translation; Qian Qichen for a conversation on PRC-U.S.
    [Show full text]
  • Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Liu Xiaobo and the Future of Political Reform in China
    NOBEL PEACE PRIZE LAUREATE LIU XIAOBO AND THE FUTURE OF POLITICAL REFORM IN CHINA HEARING BEFORE THE CONGRESSIONAL–EXECUTIVE COMMISSION ON CHINA ONE HUNDRED ELEVENTH CONGRESS SECOND SESSION NOVEMBER 9, 2010 Printed for the use of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China ( Available via the World Wide Web: http://www.cecc.gov U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 62–290 PDF WASHINGTON : 2012 For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office Internet: bookstore.gpo.gov Phone: toll free (866) 512–1800; DC area (202) 512–1800 Fax: (202) 512–2104 Mail: Stop IDCC, Washington, DC 20402–0001 VerDate Mar 15 2010 14:11 Jan 18, 2012 Jkt 000000 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 5011 Sfmt 5011 U:\DOCS\9NOV10.TXT DIEDRE CONGRESSIONAL–EXECUTIVE COMMISSION ON CHINA LEGISLATIVE BRANCH COMMISSIONERS Senate House BYRON DORGAN, North Dakota, Chairman SANDER LEVIN, Michigan, Cochairman MAX BAUCUS, Montana MARCY KAPTUR, Ohio CARL LEVIN, Michigan MICHAEL M. HONDA, California DIANNE FEINSTEIN, California TIMOTHY J. WALZ, Minnesota SHERROD BROWN, Ohio DAVID WU, Oregon SAM BROWNBACK, Kansas CHRISTOPHER H. SMITH, New Jersey BOB CORKER, Tennessee EDWARD R. ROYCE, California JOHN BARRASSO, Wyoming DONALD A. MANZULLO, Illinois GEORGE LeMIEUX, Florida JOSEPH R. PITTS, Pennsylvania EXECUTIVE BRANCH COMMISSIONERS Department of State, To Be Appointed Department of Labor, To Be Appointed Department of Commerce, To Be Appointed At-Large, To Be Appointed At-Large, To Be Appointed CHARLOTTE OLDHAM-MOORE, Staff Director DOUGLAS GROB, Cochairman’s Senior Staff Member (II) VerDate Mar 15 2010 14:11 Jan 18, 2012 Jkt 000000 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 0486 Sfmt 0486 U:\DOCS\9NOV10.TXT DIEDRE C O N T E N T S Page Opening statement of Hon.
    [Show full text]
  • No South Africa Visa for Dalai Lama: China's Growing Influence in Africa
    www.rsis.edu.sg No. 182 – 12 September 2014 RSIS Commentary is a platform to provide timely and, where appropriate, policy-relevant commentary and analysis of topical issues and contemporary developments. The views of the authors are their own and do not represent the official position of the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, NTU. These commentaries may be reproduced electronically or in print with prior permission from RSIS and due recognition to the author(s) and RSIS. Please email: [email protected] for feedback to the Editor RSIS Commentary, Yang Razali Kassim. No South Africa Visa for Dalai Lama: China’s Growing Influence in Africa By James Char Synopsis The Dalai Lama, who was to attend the 14th world summit of Nobel peace laureates, was last week refused a visa by South African authorities a third time in five years. This small measure of Chinese influence in the African continent reflects its growing confidence in its cross-regional policy. Commentary The Dalai Lama announced last week that he was cancelling his trip to the 14th World Summit of Nobel peace laureates owing to the South African government’s refusal to grant him the necessary visa. While this has led to other Nobel laureates intimating that they would boycott the event, South Africa in all likelihood, will not shift from its pro-China stance. South Africa has received criticism for bowing to Chinese pressure in the past. In 2009, it had barred the Tibetan spiritual leader and did so again when the retired Anglican archbishop Desmond Tutu invited the Dalai Lama to his 80th birthday celebrations in 2011.
    [Show full text]
  • Itcdtab36 En.Pdf
    UNITED NATIONS CONFERENCE ON TRADE AND DEVELOPMENT POLICY ISSUES IN INTERNATIONAL TRADE AND COMMODITIES STUDY SERIES No. 35 IBSA: AN EMERGING TRINITY IN THE NEW GEOGRAPHY OF INTERNATIONAL TRADE by Lakshmi Puri Director of Division on International Trade in Goods and Services, and Commodities, UNCTAD UNITED NATIONS New York and Geneva, 2007 NOTE The purpose of this series of studies is to analyse policy issues and to stimulate discussions in the area of international trade and development. This series includes studies by UNCTAD staff, as well as by distinguished researchers from academia. In keeping with the objective of the series, authors are encouraged to express their own views, which do not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations. The designations employed and the presentation of the material do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the United Nations Secretariat concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area, or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. Material in this publication may be freely quoted or reprinted, but acknowledgement is requested, together with a reference to the document number. It would be appreciated if a copy of the publication containing the quotation or reprint were sent to the UNCTAD secretariat: Chief Trade Analysis Branch Division on International Trade in Goods and Services, and Commodities United Nations Conference on Trade and Development Palais des Nations CH-1211 Geneva UNCTAD/ITCD/TAB/36 UNITED NATIONS PUBLICATION ISSN 1607-8291 © Copyright United Nations 2007 All rights reserved ii ABSTRACT This paper explores the opportunities for further economic cooperation between India, Brazil and South Africa in the context of the IBSA Trilateral Cooperation Forum.
    [Show full text]
  • In Depth-Session: Changing World Geopolitics and Global Governance: Making Sense of the Trends, Actors and Their Implications for Women’S Rights
    In Depth-Session: Changing World Geopolitics and Global Governance: Making sense of the trends, actors and their implications for women’s rights AWID INTERNATIONAL FORUM, 18 April 2012. This in depth session takes place in the afternoon of day one and two of the AWID Forum. Overall length: 6 hours, divided into four panels, with each 1,5 hours. Interpretation: Arabic, English, Spanish, Russian, Turkish. CONCEPT NOTE Why and how is global governance relevant to women's rights and why is it so complex and difficult to talk about in the current world reality? With contributions from key leaders and thinkers in this field, participants will learn about relevant characteristics of the current global context, exploring for example the connections between how growth is defined and progress is measured, and other key phenomena within current global governance arrangements and shifts. This session will look at some of the actors and institutions (new and old) defining what global governance looks like today. It will also provide a space for brainstorming about our vision of future global governance to advance women's rights, social justice, environmental sustainability and human rights. Then we will discuss the implications of this information, analysis and reflection for our own strategizing as women's rights activists. We’ll close with a focus on ‘what’s next’ on the global agenda, for example: the structures being proposed as part of the Rio+20 agenda, the Cairo and Beijing + 20 process, the proposals for reshaping global financial architecture, the proposed new global development partnership and the likely ‘post-MDG’ framework.
    [Show full text]
  • Mr. Obama, Speak up for Human Rights in China
    Mr. Obama, speak up for human rights in China By: Dr. Yang Jianli The Washington Post Opinion January 19, 2011 Dear Mr. President: I understand that when you meet Chinese President Hu Jintao this week, you will engage on some of the most complex international matters facing our two countries. Trade, currency exchange, peace on the Korean Peninsula, and arms sales to and relations with Taiwan are but a few of the urgent issues. I want to respectfully point you toward an even more fundamental complexity in the relationship that must be addressed. Assuming it is the goal of both countries to improve and expand on the political and economic foundation for a mutually beneficial relationship, this issue simply will not go away. It is the matter of how Mr. Hu's government treats its citizens. Today, Liu Xiaobo, the 2010 Nobel Peace Prize laureate, and thousands, if not tens of thousands, of other Chinese citizens are in prison simply for expressing their opinions. Mr. President, as a fellow Nobel Peace Prize laureate, you above all others must appreciate the profound incongruity of representing one population - a people who benefit from guaranteed democratic rights and privileges enshrined in the U.S. Constitution - while attempting to co-exist, do business with and grow alongside a population denied such fundamental rights. Whatever the progress on short-term matters, if the long-term issues surrounding China's need for progress on human rights and its democratization are not addressed, an increasingly difficult and unanswerable series of problems will evolve into a situation that cannot be avoided.
    [Show full text]
  • Tiananmen at 25: Enduring Influence on U.S.-China Relations and China’S Political Development
    TIANANMEN AT 25: ENDURING INFLUENCE ON U.S.-CHINA RELATIONS AND CHINA’S POLITICAL DEVELOPMENT HEARING BEFORE THE CONGRESSIONAL-EXECUTIVE COMMISSION ON CHINA ONE HUNDRED THIRTEENTH CONGRESS SECOND SESSION MAY 20, 2014 Printed for the use of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China ( Available via the World Wide Web: http://www.cecc.gov U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 88–495 PDF WASHINGTON : 2014 For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office Internet: bookstore.gpo.gov Phone: toll free (866) 512–1800; DC area (202) 512–1800 Fax: (202) 512–2104 Mail: Stop IDCC, Washington, DC 20402–0001 VerDate Mar 15 2010 10:47 Aug 26, 2014 Jkt 000000 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 5011 Sfmt 5011 U:\DOCS\88495.TXT DEIDRE CONGRESSIONAL-EXECUTIVE COMMISSION ON CHINA LEGISLATIVE BRANCH COMMISSIONERS Senate House SHERROD BROWN, Ohio, Chairman CHRIS SMITH, New Jersey, Cochairman CARL LEVIN, Michigan FRANK WOLF, Virginia DIANNE FEINSTEIN, California ROBERT PITTENGER, North Carolina JEFF MERKLEY, Oregon MARK MEADOWS, North Carolina TIM WALZ, Minnesota MARCY KAPTUR, Ohio MICHAEL HONDA, California EXECUTIVE BRANCH COMMISSIONERS NISHA DESAI BISWAL, U.S. Department of State LAWRENCE T. LIU, Staff Director PAUL B. PROTIC, Deputy Staff Director (II) VerDate Mar 15 2010 10:47 Aug 26, 2014 Jkt 000000 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 0486 Sfmt 0486 U:\DOCS\88495.TXT DEIDRE CO N T E N T S STATEMENTS Page Opening Statement of Hon. Sherrod Brown, a U.S. Senator from Ohio; Chair- man, Congressional-Executive Commission on China ...................................... 1 Smith, Hon. Christopher, a U.S. Representative from New Jersey; Cochair- man, Congressional-Executive Commission on China .....................................
    [Show full text]
  • Medal Contention
    Medal Contention Barry Sautman and Yan Hairong1 (Source: South China Morning Post, 12.10.2010 South China Morning Post, Oct. 12, 2010) In non-peace related fields, there are Nobel Prizes and, somewhat less famously, “Ig Nobel Prizes.” A group of scientists presents the latter annually, as a joke, but also to make a point about undeserving activity in their fields. One of the winners of this year’s Nobel Prize for Physics had several years back also received an Ig Nobel Prize. The award of the 2010 Nobel Peace Prize to imprisoned dissident Liu Xiaobo is be- ing celebrated globally, mainly by elites who claim to know what Liu is about. They say he is for human rights and democracy, but there is more to it than that, because much of what he is about is ignoble. When people living in authoritarian societies demand freedom of speech, they usually do so with goals in mind that go beyond just allowing everyone to have a say. Liu Xiaobo’s political and social goals have scarcely been mentioned in the current wave of adulation, yet these goals are distinctly at variance with the interests of the vast majority of Chinese, as they perceive them. What a few people in China know about Liu, but hardly any outsiders do, is his pre- scription for China’s development, first made when Liu was already in his 30s. In 1988, an interviewer asked him what condition China needs to have real historical change. He answered that China needs to have 300 years of colonization.
    [Show full text]