Assessment Report on the National Human Rights Action Plan of China (2009-2010)
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Xinhua, July 14, 2011
Contents
Preface
I. Overall Implementation
II. Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
III. Civil and Political Rights
IV. Guarantee of the Rights and Interests of Ethnic Minorities, Women, Children, Elderly People and the Disabled
V. Human Rights Education for the Public
VI. Performing International Human Rights Duties, and Conducting Exchanges and Cooperation in the Field of International Human Rights
VI. Performing International Human Rights Duties, and Conducting Exchanges and Cooperation in the Field of International Human Rights
China conscientiously fulfils its obligations under the international human rights conventions to which it is a signatory, and advocates and actively participates in exchanges and cooperation in the field of international human rights. It has fulfilled its commitments in the Action Plan, making new efforts for the healthy development of international human rights endeavors.
China cherishes the important role played by international human rights instruments in promoting and protecting human rights, and conscientiously fulfils its obligations to the conventions. It submits timely reports to the relevant bodies on how it implements the conventions, holds constructive dialogues with these treaty bodies, takes into full consideration the suggestions offered by them, and adopts those deemed feasible in the light of China's actual conditions.
During the past two years, after soliciting opinions from related departments, NGOs, academic institutes and the public, the Chinese government completed its second report on implementing the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, its third and fourth combined report on implementing the Convention on the Rights of the Child (including its latest report on implementing the Optional Protocol on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography), the first report on implementing the Optional Protocol on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict and its first report on implementing the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and submitted them to the United Nations.
In 2009 the Chinese government sent a delegation to participate in a meeting held by the U.N. Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination to discuss China's 10th, 11th, 12th and 13th combined report on its implementation of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, and held a constructive dialogue with the committee. On August 28, the committee passed and published the concluding report, which confirmed China's measures and achievements in developing the economy in the areas inhabited by ethnic minorities, supporting less-populated ethnic groups and protecting ethnic-minority cultures. The Chinese government valued the conclusion seriously, and presented feedback materials for some suggestions in the concluding report to the committee in August 2010.
The Chinese government earnestly executes the requirements of the UN Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC), and actively conducts international cooperation in this field. Since 2009 it has sent delegations to attend the Third Conference of the States Parties (CoSP) of the UNCAC, as well as all meetings and exchanges regarding review of the implementation of the Convention, asset recovery and preventive measures under the framework of the Convention.
China is carrying out legislative and judicial reforms. It amended the Law on Lawyers and the Law on State Compensation to prepare the ground for the ratification of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
China is committed to holding exchanges and cooperation in the field of international human rights and promoting the healthy development of international human rights on the basis of equality and mutual respect. China continues to take an active part in the work of the Third Committee of UN General Assembly and the UN Human Rights Council (HRC). It sent delegations to participate in the fourth to tenth rounds of the HRC Universal Periodic Review (UPR), helping the HRC to solve human rights problems in a fair, objective and non-selective manner. In February 2009 China for the first time underwent the UPR on China, at which the Chinese delegation gave a detailed account of the development in China's human rights situation, the challenges it faces and the goals it has set, and held open and candid dialogues with various countries. Many countries have confirmed China's efforts and achievements in the field of human rights, and offered some valuable proposals in this regard. The Chinese delegation, with a serious and responsible attitude, deliberated these proposals, and adopted 42 that were regarded as feasible in the light of China's reality. In June the same year the HRC approved the UPR reports on China.
China has maintained good cooperation with the HRC Special Procedures. The Chinese government received the visiting UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food in December 2010. China has high regard for the important role played by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), and donates to it every year to support its work. Meanwhile, China has implemented the Memorandum of Understanding on Technical Cooperation on Human Right of the OHCHR.
China values highly and continues to strengthen exchanges and cooperation with the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, the World Health Organization, the International Labor Organization and similar international organizations. It continues to participate in human rights exchange activities within the framework of the Asia-Pacific Region and Sub-region. It attended the UN HRC Asian regional consultation on the issue of mercenaries, playing a constructive role.
China continues to hold bilateral dialogues and exchanges on human rights with various countries and regional organizations on the basis of equality and mutual respect. During the two years China held dialogues and consultations on human rights with the EU, the US, the UK, the Netherlands, Germany and Australia, and conducted exchanges on human rights with a wide range of developing countries.
China's NGOs also promote cooperation and exchanges in the field of human rights. During the past two years China Society for Human Rights Studies twice held the "Beijing Human Rights Forum," communicating with officials and experts from over 40 countries and regions and international organizations concerned.
