——Form the Perspective of the Red Cross Humanitarian Aid

Yue Kai WONG
Macau, China

I. INTRODUCTION 

1. Motivation and Purpose

As part of the 2nd Forum in Beijing on Human Rights, held in September this year, I was honored to be invited to participate in the Forum and to submit the relevant papers. As a matter of fact, since the nineties, the Western countries, owing to their strategic needs to restrain China, have year after year, criticized and blamed the Chinese government on the grounds of its human rights. This has resulted in the Central Government attaching great importance to this issue, having over the years organized a large number of experts and scholars to conduct a comprehensive research and innovation on the subject from various angles and keeping pace with the times. I will carefully examine this proposition as a member of Macau Red Cross, who has in the past ten years, since the transition of sovereignty, participated in Mainland China's relief work in poverty-stricken regions and reconstruction projects in the disaster areas.

2. Intrinsic links between the Red Cross Movement and Human Rights

Originated in Europe in the mid-19th Century, the Red Cross Movement had benefited from the Renaissance Movement which spread in the European Society for several centuries, using science to fight against obscurantism and human rights to counter divine rights. From the 14th to the 16th Century, the Renaissance has inspired people's wisdom, advocated people's deep concern and sympathy, and enhanced freedom, values, dignity and liberation to a primary position. This constitutes the main cornerstone of the "humanitarian" object of the Red Cross Movement.
 
Legally speaking, being an integral part of the international law, International Humanitarian Law and International Human Rights Law complement each other. Although being on different perspectives, however, both are committed to the protection of human's life, health and dignity.  Therefore, we can affirm that since its inception, the Red Cross Movement has maintained a closed link with human rights.

3. A look at the Human Rights situation in China from the perspective of a participant of the Red Cross Movement

After the return of the sovereignty of Macau to the People's Republic of China on 20th December, 1999, Macau Red Cross was separated from the Portuguese Red Cross and successfully became a member of the Red Cross Society of China, enjoying a high degree of autonomy. The smooth transfer fully demonstrates the spirit of "One country, two systems". As a member of the administration of Macau Red Cross, I have witnessed this historial process.