HUMAN RIGHTS IN CHINA: CANADA TAKING LONG-TERM VIEW

C O N F I D E N T I A L OTTAWA 002454 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/27/2013 TAGS: PHUM CA UNHRC SUBJECT: HUMAN RIGHTS IN CHINA: CANADA TAKING LONG-TERM VIEW REF: STATE 240681 Classified By: Pol MC Brian Flora for reasons 1.5(b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Post delivered points contained reftel on August 26 to Adrian Norfolk, Acting Director of DFAIT's Human Rights, Humanitarian Affairs and International Women's Equality Division. Norfolk said that Canada takes a long-term view towards the human rights situation in China. While Canada does not believe the human rights situation in China is good, Norfolk said, the situation is at least better now than it was 20 years ago. Canada is hopeful this long-term trend will continue, Norfolk said. ¶2. (C) Planning is underway in Norfolk's division for two upcoming human rights dialogues with Chinese officials, a bilateral meeting in Ottawa in October and a trilateral meeting with China and Norway in December. Norfolk said that Canada and China have held bilateral meetings focusing on human rights each year since 1997. Norfolk feels these dialogues have been productive and that Chinese officials have reacted well to Canadian concerns. He noted, however,that unlike the U.S.,the Canadians have not set any real benchmarks by which to measure China's progress on human rights. ¶3. (C) With respect to a China resolution at next spring's CHR session, Norfolk indicated it is too early to say whether Canada would sponsor or co-sponsor. He noted that such country-specific resolutions are an extremely sensitive matter for Canada. Norfolk said that if such a resolution is brought forward, Canada would oppose a no-action motion by the Chinese, although he noted that China would likely prevail on such a motion. Visit Canada's Classified Web Site at http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/wha/ottawa KELLY