SR0595 LRB094 19453 LJB 55235 r

1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, Good health is essential to every citizen of the
3 world and access to the highest standards of health information
4 and services is necessary to improve public health; and
 
5     WHEREAS, The World Health Organization (WHO) set forth in
6 the first chapter of its charter the objective of attaining the
7 highest possible level of health for all the people of the
8 world; and
 
9     WHEREAS, The Republic of China's achievements in the field
10 of health are substantial, including one of the highest life
11 expectancy levels in Asia, maternal and infant mortality rates
12 comparable to those of western countries, the eradication of
13 such infectious diseases as cholera, smallpox and the plague,
14 and the first to eradicate polio and provide children with
15 hepatitis B vaccinations; and
 
16     WHEREAS, There is an emerging disease that threatens a
17 pandemic of unprecedented proportions; avian influenza is the
18 link between a non-traditional threat and security that
19 requires us to place human lives at the center of discourse;
20 and
 
21     WHEREAS, In recent years the Republic of China has
22 expressed a willingness to assist financially and technically
23 in international health activities supported by the World
24 Health Organization; and
 
25     WHEREAS, Direct, unobstructed participation in
26 international health forums and programs is essential to limit
27 the spread of various infectious diseases and improve world
28 health; and
 
29     WHEREAS, Taiwan's participation in the World Health

 

 

SR0595 - 2 - LRB094 19453 LJB 55235 r

1 Organization could bring many benefits to the state of health
2 not only in Taiwan, but also regionally and globally; and
 
3     WHEREAS, The United States, in the 1994 Taiwan Policy
4 review, declared its intention to support Taiwan's
5 participation in appropriate international organizations; and
 
6     WHEREAS, The United States Centers for Disease Control and
7 Prevention and its Taiwanese counterpart have enjoyed close
8 collaboration on a wide range of public health issues; and
 
9     WHEREAS, Illinois continues to acknowledge and appreciate
10 its important economic, educational, and cultural ties with
11 Taiwan recognized through the establishment of sister-state
12 relations with Taiwan since 1992; therefore, be it
 
13     RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL
14 ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we support Taiwan's
15 admission as an observer to the World Health Organization and
16 express the belief that the Republic of China (Taiwan) should
17 be permitted to participate in a meaningful and appropriate way
18 in the World Health Organization, especially in light of the
19 emerging threat in Southeast Asia of avian influenza; and be it
20 further
 
21     RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be sent
22 to World Health Organization.