(Clearwisdom.net) On the same day that Hu Jintao arrived in Canada, a "Forum on Issues Regarding China's Persecuted Children," sponsored by the Global Mission to Rescue Persecuted Falun Gong Practitioners (GMRPFGP), was held at Toronto University on September 8, 2005. Four experts and scholars from Children's Right, Center for Victims of Torture, Human Rights and Youth Associations attended the forum and gave speeches. Lawyer Michael Mosty, director of the Canadian Democratic Union hosted the forum.
  From left to right: Michael Mosty, Kelly, Tara Ashtakala, Ezat Mossallaneiad, Wojciech Gryc |
  Global Rescue Canada Branch President Jiang Fan makes opening speech (standing) |
  Host Canadian Democratic Union Director lawyer Michael Mosty |
  Policy Analyst Dr. Ezat Mossallaneiad from Canadian Center For Victims Of Torture (CCVT) |
  Global Rescue Canada Branch Youth President Kelly (right) |
  Initiator and Director Wojciech Gryc for Human Rights 5 Minutes to Midnight (right) |
Dr. Ezat Mossallaneiad from Canadian Center For Victims Of Torture (CCVT) expressed that torture is unacceptable in a civilized society, torture leads to great harm to victims, and will bring about a very bad impact on society. Dr. Ezat pointed out that in today's 21st century, children in fifteen countries are suffering persecution in differing degrees, and the situation is especially serious in China. The persecution is not only a China issue but a challenge to the world. The voices of the international community are very important in ending the persecution.
He said that the CCVT offers help particularly for victims of torture in terms of psychological guidance, medical treatment and legal assistance. He illustrated with an example. The center once received a Chinese Falun Gong practitioner in his 70s, and he appealed that all Falun Gong practitioners who suffer torture and abuses for practicing Falun Gong in China directly go to the CCVT to seek help.
Youth President of Global Rescue Kelly talked about how the CCP's persecution of Falun Gong has brought great harm to tens of thousands of children physically, mentally and socially. In terms of social harm, including facts that practitioners were forced to receive propaganda education that slanders Falun Gong, if they don't participate, the students are not allowed to graduate. Students who do not know the truth about Falun Gong are incited to hate Falun Gong, and students are forced to participate in the so-called "one million signatures" collection drive. In terms of physical injuries, many students and children who practice Falun Gong have been beaten by the police. Kelly introduced that a 11-year-old boy was grasped and lifted up and then thrown to the ground by a police officer. The boy kept crying, and the officer brutally hit him on his face, leading to the boy's immediate loss of hearing. In terms of mental harm, Falun Gong practitioners' children are extensively treated with prejudice in society, including the huge mental trauma of being forced to give up their schooling, and being threatened, terrified and losing their parents. Falun Gong practitioners' families have often been extorted of money. Five-month-old Yingying's parents were extorted of 2,000 yuan. Kelly finally talked about many cases of Chinese children becoming orphans as their parents were tortured to death by the CCP for practicing Falun Gong.
Kelly said that Global Rescue and overseas Falun Gong practitioners have held various rescue activities to help these persecuted children. For example, last year, young volunteers held an SOS bicycle tour from Toronto to Washington DC, and delivered 50,000 post cards to the Canadian Prime Minister's office in hopes that more people will understand the facts of the persecution happening in China, and extend their helping hands.
Wojciech Gryc is initiator and director of "Five Minutes to Midnight." "Five Minutes to Midnight" is a non-governmental organization promoting youth human rights, and is active in 25 countries. Wojciech Gryc talked about the persecution of Falun Gong from the angle of the media. He said that media under the control of China have misled the public and led to people's hostility against Falun Gong practitioners, and thus practitioners have had to endure tremendous pressure. This has aggravated the persecution.
The president of the Canadian Coalition for the Rights of Children, Tara Ashtakala made an introduction on passing and implementing the Children Rights' Pact by the UN Human Rights Committee. The pact is about rules on children's rights that are extensively accepted worldwide at present. It stipulates universal rights enjoyed by children, such as freedom of belief. Basic human rights include the right not to be prejudiced against, right to survive, right to livelihood and development, the right to freely express opinions, the right to free association, the right to receive education, and the right not to be mistreated. Tara especially mentioned that China is one of the countries that co-signed the pact and will submit to the UN Human Rights Rappateur its second report. The report on persecuted Falun Gong children was very recently submitted, therefore the human rights committee expressed dissatisfaction about China's report. She said the purpose for gathering these materials is to appeal to the Canadian government to urge China to resolve the human rights issues during their negotiation with the Chinese government.
Tara suggested in the end that Global Rescue continue submitting reports to the UN Human Rights Committee, continue introducing the persecution facts to the public, and pay attention to the Human Rights Committee's investigation development.
The host of the forum, lawyer Michael Mosty, said that Canada is co-signer of various international treaties protecting children's rights and anti-mistreatment of children. As citizens, we should urge the Canadian government to respect the international pact, and request our politicians to remind them to respect the protection of human rights and children's rights stipulated in the international pact.
The forum lasted for three hours, and concluded at 4:00 p.m..
