China said Wednesday at the 60th session of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights in Geneva that although human rights mechanisms still functioned, they were subject to various limitations and restrictions.  

"Human rights conventions and fundamental human rights had not been universally recognized and given due importance," said Li Baodong, a Chinese government representative to the meeting, when the Commission was debating effective functioning of human rights mechanisms.

"The right to development was an important and fundamental human right, which constituted the basis and precondition for the realization of all other human rights. However, the United States refused to recognize the right to development," Li said.

The Commission adopted a resolution on the right to development on Tuesday by a roll-call vote of 49 in favor and three against, and the United States is one of the three against.

"Protection of children's rights was the top priority all over the world, and there were only two countries that had not acceded to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, one of which was the self-proclaimed 'world champion of human rights'," he said.

Furthermore, some important human rights instruments were not fully implemented, and some important human rights were not duly protected, he added.

Li pointed out that the United States had not faithfully honored its obligations under those conventions though it had acceded to some international human rights conventions.

The special mechanisms under the Human Rights Commission were more likely to target and criticize the developing countries to the effect that these mechanisms could not fairly function, he said.

"The main reason behind this was that the United States, as a superpower, was always demanding other countries invite mandate holders to visit them, while the United States itself never gave any consideration to the requests to visit."

He expressed deep concern over the special mechanisms which were under severe challenges in the face of constant changes in the international situation.

He also urged the Commission to reform the item on the violation of human rights and fundamental freedoms in any part of the world, which had been abused over the years.

(Xinhua News Agency April 15, 2004)