Congressman Chris Smith: Human Rights Day Should Include China, Abortion
by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
December 10, 2009
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) — As the world marked Human Rights Day, one of the most-respected pro-life members of Congress said it should include abortion awareness. Congressman Chris Smith painted a grim picture of human rights abuses in China and other nations and said most pressure must be put on them.
Smith, a senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and a leading human rights advocate, said 2009 was not a "good year" for many people across the world.
“Many have continued to see their human rights violated by their own governments which are supposed to look out for them," he told LifeNews.com.
Last month, Smith led a hearing of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission (TLHRC) on China’s "brutal" one child policy.
Smith focused on the hearing on the Asian nation’s treatment of women under the policy and said many of them are subjected to abortions, sterilization and are left without jobs, little money and no dignity because of their treatment under the regime.
Those who speak out against the forced abortion policy are subjected to imprisonment, fines, and house arrest — and that one attorney who is helping Chen Guangcheng, a leading forced abortion opponent, saw just that after testifying at the hearing.
"Days later one witness was detained during President Obama’s visit, and later arrested," Smith said.
“Human rights have suffered in China in 2009, and the United States has been sending a message that profits and money-making and climate change issues trump human rights,” said Smith.
Earlier, Smith panned Obama for deciding to reauthorize $50 million in funds for the UNFPA, which has worked with the family planning officials in China who have forced women to have abortions to put them in prison for violating the policy.
“It is outrageous that the Obama Administration lavishly funds—to the tune of $50 million—organizations, including the U.N. Population Fund, that partner with China’s National Population Planning Commission," he said.
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