Taiwan And The World Health Organisation

EDM number 1856 in 2005-06, proposed by Nicholas Winterton on 21/03/2006.

That this House notes with regret that the World Health Organisation (WHO), at its World Health Assembly (WHA) meetings in Geneva in recent years, opposed including on the agenda Taiwan's participation in the WHA as an observer; believes that it is fully justifiable to invite Taiwan to participate in the WHA as an observer; welcomes the support given by the United States of America and Japan in recent years to Taiwan's participation in the WHA as an observer; further notes that the Government strongly supports the principle enshrined in the WHO constitution that the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health is one of the fundamental rights of every human being; is disappointed that the Government has not supported Taiwan's participation in the WHA as an observer by arguing that there are difficulties over Taiwanese involvement in a United Nations forum, where statehood is a prerequisite for full membership, while ignoring the precedents that The Holy See, Palestine and the Sovereign Order of Malta have been granted observer status at WHA meetings; further welcomes the Explanation of Vote by the European Union at the WHA meeting in Geneva in May 2004; and strongly encourages the Government to support the request being made by Taiwan for observer status at the WHA and to ensure Taiwan's meaningful participation in the WHO.

This motion has been signed by a total of 26 MPs.