Friday, August 1, 2008

Call for end to coercive population control


The U.S. House of Representatives has voted in favour of a resolution calling on China to end its coercive population control policy. Chris Smith, a co-sponsor of the resolution and expert on China's one-child policy, drew particular attention to sex selective abortion and the continuing mistreatment of women in the name of the policy. He said:
"China’s coercive population control program has imposed unspeakable violence, pain and humiliation on hundreds of millions of Chinese women, many of whom suffer lifelong depression as a consequence. Massively violated by the state, it is no wonder more women commit suicide in China than anywhere else in the world."
He added:
"With its heavy reliance on forced abortion, involuntary sterilization and ruinous fines for illegal children, the policy, in effect since 1979, constitutes one of the greatest continuous crimes against humanity in human history."


The resolution was passed by 419 votes to 1.