Federal Department of Foreign Affairs Bern, 23 August 2001

Representatives of the Human Rights Section, Political Affairs Division, of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (DFAE) today met with a delegation of Falun Gong practitioners for an interview. The representatives of DFAE took this opportunity of explaining Switzerland's human rights policy.

Switzerland is very much disturbed by the two-year campaign of repression against the Falun Gong movement. Switzerland has specifically urged China to respect freedom of worship, freedom of opinion and the individual rights of Chinese citizens. At the March 2000 session of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, Mr. Joseph Deiss, Minister for Foreign Affairs, expressed his concern at the mass repression of religious groups and minorities, whose fundamental rights were consistently flouted.

For some ten years now Switzerland has been engaged in a dialogue with China on the subject of human rights and intends in the future to continue to promote the cause of respect for fundamental rights in China, particularly the rights of Falun Gong members and specifically in cases of detention. The next occasion should be before the end of this year since a Swiss delegation will be going to China to meet various different authorities and organizations. Several important topics which will be on the agenda, including freedom of religion, the enforcement of penalties and the prohibition of torture, also concern the Falun Gong movement.