Scott Chiang (left) and Jason Chao during a press conference held yesterday at ANM’s headquarters
The United Nations Committee against Torture will, from today and for the next three days, discuss matters on China at its ordinary meeting. The New Macau Association (ANM) vice-president Jason Chao is in Geneva, from where he yesterday participated in a press conference held at the association’s headquarters, stating that the report submitted to the UN by the local government is misleading and omits facts.
“The Paris Principles demand that every country, and regions like Hong Kong and Macau, have an agency to protect human rights. Besides taking complaints, it should also promote human rights. The Macau government claims repeatedly that the CCAC [Commission Against Corruption] is performing this function, but CCAC can’t do so,” Chao said.
ANM’s president Scott Chiang submitted a report to the Committee about one month ago. Jason Chao was invited to go to Geneva in order to comment on the ANM report.
In the document, the association expresses concerns in different areas, namely the judiciary cooperation agreement with mainland China and Hong Kong that would allow criminal extradition between the three regions. According to the ANM, these “deals” are against both Macau law and best international practices.
“For example, Macau has legislated for the Basic Law’s Article 23 on national security, but Hong Kong hasn’t. If there were judiciary cooperation, it could be the case that Macau may ask Hong Kong to extradite some people to Macau, because they have committed some crimes that aren’t even a crime under Hong Kong law, for example, treason,” said Scott Chiang.
Speaking by videoconference
from the Swiss city, Jason Chao revealed that he will ask the committee to urge the local government to reject extradition in such situations. He also urges local authorities to set up a human rights protection agency.
Besides this topic, in their report New Macau also addressed other concerns like the lack of a law to address sexual harassment cases and domestic violence as well as other forms of discrimination like gender and sexual orientation, which the association claims are currently in force in the territory. RM
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