Give Taiwan a hand

May 18, 2006

The 59th World Health Assembly (WHA) is scheduled to take place at the Palais des Nations, Geneva, Switzerland from May 22-27, 2006.

In the renewed outbreak of the avian flu in Indonesia and Laos, the Assembly will discuss several draft resolutions recommended by the Executive Board.

These include the strengthening pandemic-influenza preparedness and response, the application of the International Health Regulations 2005 and whether or not to let Taiwan become an observer.

For the past nine consecutive years in the WHA, the annual meeting of the World Health Organization's (WHO) 192 member states has denied Taiwan bowing to China's obstructions.

The exclusion of Taiwan violates the principles and spirit of the UN Charter, in particular the fundamental principle of universality, and of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

To uphold the basic human rights of the 23 million people in Taiwan and to achieve global diseases prevention and to uphold the goal of the WHO on the attainment by all peoples of the highest possible level of health, Taiwan should not be denied in WHA.

This year on May 15, 2006 with ensuring optimal national and global health Security in mind, Taiwan have voluntary declared its early compliance with all the Provisions of the IHR (2005).

Please kindly support Taiwan to be an observer in the World Health Assembly (WHA) -- the highest decision-making body of the WHO.

Let Taiwan be an observer and participate in the WHO's Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network, a "one-stop shop" of global resources to help manage public health emergencies of international concern, and a key tool to help support the International Health Regulations.

Your gracious support will be highly valued by the 23 million people in Taiwan.