AAAS Scientific Responsibility, Human Rights and Law Program

View Alerts By > Case | Date | Country | Victim

AAAS Human Rights Action Network

Letter of Appeal from the AAAS Committee on Scientific Freedom and Responsibility

1 June 2001


His Excellency Zhu Rongji
Premier of the People's Republic of China
Guowuyuan
9 Xihuangchenggenbeijie
Beijingshi 100032
People's Republic of China
Fax: 011 8610 6 520 5316 or 011 8610 6 467 7046


Your Excellency:

The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) is the largest organization of natural and social scientists in the United States, and the world's largest federation of scientific organizations, with 145,000 individual members and 300 affiliated groups. Our AAAS Committee on Scientific Freedom and Responsibility was formed in 1976 to protect the human rights of scientists and to deal with issues relating to scientific freedom worldwide.

On behalf of the Committee, I am writing to strongly protest the Chinese government's decision not to grant Dr. Gao Yaojie a passport. As I am sure you are aware, Dr. Gao has been selected by the Global Health Council as the 2001 recipient of the prestigious Jonathan Mann Health and Human Rights award. A special ceremony in Washington, DC was scheduled to take place last night, on 31 May 2001, that would honor Dr. Gao's commitment to providing Chinese citizens with information about HIV and AIDS. It is a great shame that Dr. Gao was unable to attend the reception to receive in person a recognition that she so richly deserves.

Dr. Gao is an inspiration for human rights and health advocates everywhere. Despite her retirement, she continues to work tirelessly to educate Chinese citizens about HIV and AIDS. From recent news reports, it is clear that the area of Henan Province is struggling with a large-scale AIDS epidemic. Dr. Gao provides valuable information and education to the villagers in the province about the virus. As many nations around the world struggle to address the ravages of HIV and AIDS, Dr. Gao's example has demonstrated the difference that one individual can make in the face of this disease.

The denial of Dr. Gao's right to travel by denying Dr. Gao a passport is in direct violation to several human rights standards, including the:

Universal Declaration of Human Rights: (adopted without opposition by the United Nations General Assembly on 10 December 1948)

§ Article 13 (2): Everyone has the right to leave any country, including his own, and to return to his country.
§ Article 19: Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.

International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights: (China signed the treaty on 5 October 1998. Signing a treaty signifies a nation's intention to comply with its provisions and to work for its ratification.)

§ Article 12 (2): Everyone shall be free to leave any country, including his own.
§ Article 19: Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.

I can think of no more deserving individual than Dr. Gao Yaojie to receive the Jonathan Mann Health and Human Rights award. As you may also know, the award is intended to provide the recipient with recognition for their contributions in the area of health and human rights and with financial freedom to continue their work. Dr. Gao has stated that she intends to use the funds from the award to continue her HIV/AIDS prevention and education work. I respectfully request your government's assistance in ensuring that Dr. Gao Yaojie receives the full amount of the award money without restriction.


Sincerely,

Carole Nagengast, Ph.D.
Chair
AAAS Committee on Scientific Freedom and Responsibility

Main | CSFR Letters | Science and Human Rights Program