China endeavors to improve human rights
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China Daily, July 13, 2011
Fourthly, human rights education among the public is being carried out extensively, and the Chinese public's awareness of human rights has been remarkably enhanced. During the past two years China has integrated the publicity of human rights knowledge with the popularization of legal knowledge, and carried out various human rights education programs in a planned way, mainly by relying on the current education system, training organizations of the State organs and radio and TV broadcasting. The result has been a significant improvement in the public's awareness of human rights and its ability to safeguard such rights. The China Society for Human Rights Studies has published a serious of books, including China's Human Rights Cause Is in Action and China's Human Rights Achievements over the Past Sixty Years. The periodical Human Rights and the website www.humanrights.cn also publicize knowledge about human rights among the people. At present, there are nearly 30 human rights research centers in China set up by colleges and research institutes. Dozens of colleges offer courses in human rights law and human rights education. In April 2011 the Ministry of Education established national-level human rights education and training centers at the Nankai University, the China University of Political Science and Law, and the Guangzhou University.
Fifthly, cooperation in the field of international human rights has been further enhanced. China conscientiously fulfils its obligations under the international human rights conventions, and submits timely reports to the relevant bodies on how it implements the conventions, including the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the UN Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC). Over the past two years China has sent many delegations to attend UN conferences on human rights. In 2009 China for the first time participated in the UN Human Rights Council's Universal Periodic Review on China. China has high regard for the role played by the HRC Special Procedures and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in promoting and protecting human rights, and maintains good cooperations with them.
China advocates and energetically participates in international exchanges and cooperation concerning human rights. During the two years China held dialogues and consultations on human rights with the EU, the US, the UK, the Netherlands, Germany, Australia and other countries. It continues to participate in human rights activities within the framework of the Asia-Pacific Region and Sub-region. China's NGOs also promote cooperation and exchanges in the field of human rights. The China Society for Human Rights Studies has twice held the "Beijing Human Rights Forum", holding dialogues with officials and scholars from over 40 countries and regions and international organizations concerned. China has fulfilled its commitments in the Action Plan, making new efforts to promote the healthy development of international human rights endeavors.
In conclusion, China has comprehensively implemented the Action Plan and achieved significant progress in the cause of human rights. It is a significant achievement made by the Chinese government by means of thoroughly applying the Scientific Outlook on Development which puts people first, appropriately tackling the impact of the global financial crisis and the challenges posed by various major natural disasters, and pushing forward economic and social development while improving the people's living standards. The Action Plan also marks significant progress achieved by China through implementing the constitutional principle that "the State respects and safeguards human rights, incorporating the principle of universal human rights into China" actual national situation, and unswervingly pushing forward the country's cause of human rights. It was not easy to completely fulfill the commitments in the Action Plan, but the experience drawn from practice is precious.
Firstly, we must take into consideration our basic national conditions, uphold the path of socialism, and adhere to the socialist system with Chinese characteristics. China is a developing country with a large population, insufficient per capita resources and unbalanced economic and social development at a low level. This is the basic national situation that China must face in order to tackle all its problems. To improve human rights in China we must take into consideration the basic national conditions and seek truth from facts, correctly address the relationship between reform, development and stability and the safeguarding of human rights, incorporate universal human rights into China's basic national conditions, prioritize the people's right to subsistence and development in the course of human rights development, and persevere in safeguarding economic, social and cultural rights and civil and political rights in a balanced way.
Secondly, we must adhere to the Scientific Outlook on Development, and effectively ensure all members of the society have the right to participation and development on an equal footing. We should incorporate the promotion of human rights into the whole process of building a harmonious society, strive to solve the practical problems of the utmost and immediate concern to the people regarding their rights and interests, ensure that development is for the people, by the people and with the people sharing in its fruits, give more importance to safeguarding and improving the people's livelihood, and increasingly improve the people's living standards and level of happiness.
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