The European Commission appointed the Galway-based...

The European Commission appointed the Galway-based Irish Centre for Human Rights to co-ordinate a E1.5 million project which will promote the implementation of international human rights covenants in China.
The programme involves 15 European human rights centres, one from each member state, and the same number of Chinese institutions. A wide range of human rights issues will be addressed, including capital punishment, torture, the right to education, labour standards and the right to a fair trial.
"In the last few years China has shown increasing willingness to accept the role of international human rights monitoring mechanisms," says Prof William Schabas, director of the ICHR.
"Consequently, it has ratified the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and is preparing to ratify the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. It is essential, however, that China's commitments go beyond simply formalistic gestures and that they be given substance," he added.
The EU-China project will allow European human rights specialists to contribute to human rights monitoring in China by adding their expertise, Prof Schabas said.