Human Rights Achievements in China
2004-03-09 11:42
April 9, 2000--The Chinese government attaches
great importance to
the promotion and protection of civil and political rights while
working to realize the economic, social and cultural rights and
improve the people's livelihood, a Chinese delegate said in Geneva
on April 6.
Alternate Representative of the Chinese delegation Li Baodong told
the 56th session of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights of
China's achievements by illustrating them with examples in the
following four aspects:
--To administer the state affairs according to law. In March 1999,
the concept of running the country in accordance with law was
formally incorporated into the Constitution. The key essence is to
ensure that the government functions as the law sees it,
law-enforcement and judicial bodies operate within the bound of law
and citizens exercise their rights and fulfill their obligations
according to law.
The Chinese society is now in the process of transition from too
much emphasis on the rule of person and insufficient emphasis on the
rule of law to establishing concept of the rule of law, from
supremacy of the power to supremacy of the law, from too much
emphasis on duties and insufficient emphasis on rights to
establishing a correct notion about rights and obligations.
--Strengthening legislation, popularizing legal education and
increasing supervision on law-enforcement. In recent years, a
series of important laws, including the Law on Prison, the Law on
Judges and the Law on Lawyers, have been adopted. In particular,
the revision of and amendments to the Criminal Law and the Criminal
Procedure Law have considerably improved human rights protection
during criminal proceedings.
Lately, the National People's Congress and its Standing Committee
have also passed the Law on Administrative Review and the Law on
Legislation. They are now drafting the Law on Supervision.
The nationwide education on legal provisions is developing in
depth. Citizens are quickly increasing the awareness of
safeguarding their rights and interests by making use of law. The
Chinese judicial bodies have moved ahead with comprehensive reform
to further enhance the fair administration of justice and to upgrade
the level of law enforcement.
--Effective guarantee of freedom of religion and belief. The
Chinese constitution provides that the citizens enjoy the freedom
of religious belief.
At present, there are more than 85,000 sites for religious
activities in China, more than 300,000 clergy, over 3,000 religious
organizations and 74 religious schools and colleges. Various
religions have witnessed the increase of followers in recent years.
For example, the number of Protestant believers has grown to over
10 million from 700,000 in 1949.
--Prohibition of and opposition to torture. Through its legislation,
China explicitly prohibits torture and metes out severe punishment
against the use of torture. In judicial practice, China has
installed a variety of vigorous mechanisms of supervision,
including legislative, administrative and social supervision, and
stresses the training of law enforcement personnel in order to
effectively prevent occurrence of torture. In 1988, China acceded
to the UN Convention Against Torture. China is serious about
fulfilling its obligations under the Convention and has thus far
submitted three reports on its implementation.
"China has made great efforts to strengthen the legal system and
develop democracy," said Li. "Remarkable achievements have been
scored in promoting and protecting all civil and political rights.
These achievements are acknowledged by any one free of bias and
certainly cannot be negated by the misinformation against China by
the United States, and some other Western countries or a handful of
NGOs."
the promotion and protection of civil and political rights while
working to realize the economic, social and cultural rights and
improve the people's livelihood, a Chinese delegate said in Geneva
on April 6.
Alternate Representative of the Chinese delegation Li Baodong told
the 56th session of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights of
China's achievements by illustrating them with examples in the
following four aspects:
--To administer the state affairs according to law. In March 1999,
the concept of running the country in accordance with law was
formally incorporated into the Constitution. The key essence is to
ensure that the government functions as the law sees it,
law-enforcement and judicial bodies operate within the bound of law
and citizens exercise their rights and fulfill their obligations
according to law.
The Chinese society is now in the process of transition from too
much emphasis on the rule of person and insufficient emphasis on the
rule of law to establishing concept of the rule of law, from
supremacy of the power to supremacy of the law, from too much
emphasis on duties and insufficient emphasis on rights to
establishing a correct notion about rights and obligations.
--Strengthening legislation, popularizing legal education and
increasing supervision on law-enforcement. In recent years, a
series of important laws, including the Law on Prison, the Law on
Judges and the Law on Lawyers, have been adopted. In particular,
the revision of and amendments to the Criminal Law and the Criminal
Procedure Law have considerably improved human rights protection
during criminal proceedings.
Lately, the National People's Congress and its Standing Committee
have also passed the Law on Administrative Review and the Law on
Legislation. They are now drafting the Law on Supervision.
The nationwide education on legal provisions is developing in
depth. Citizens are quickly increasing the awareness of
safeguarding their rights and interests by making use of law. The
Chinese judicial bodies have moved ahead with comprehensive reform
to further enhance the fair administration of justice and to upgrade
the level of law enforcement.
--Effective guarantee of freedom of religion and belief. The
Chinese constitution provides that the citizens enjoy the freedom
of religious belief.
At present, there are more than 85,000 sites for religious
activities in China, more than 300,000 clergy, over 3,000 religious
organizations and 74 religious schools and colleges. Various
religions have witnessed the increase of followers in recent years.
For example, the number of Protestant believers has grown to over
10 million from 700,000 in 1949.
--Prohibition of and opposition to torture. Through its legislation,
China explicitly prohibits torture and metes out severe punishment
against the use of torture. In judicial practice, China has
installed a variety of vigorous mechanisms of supervision,
including legislative, administrative and social supervision, and
stresses the training of law enforcement personnel in order to
effectively prevent occurrence of torture. In 1988, China acceded
to the UN Convention Against Torture. China is serious about
fulfilling its obligations under the Convention and has thus far
submitted three reports on its implementation.
"China has made great efforts to strengthen the legal system and
develop democracy," said Li. "Remarkable achievements have been
scored in promoting and protecting all civil and political rights.
These achievements are acknowledged by any one free of bias and
certainly cannot be negated by the misinformation against China by
the United States, and some other Western countries or a handful of
NGOs."