The second session of the Beijing Forum on Human Rights, hosted by the China Society for Human Rights Studies,?is held in Beijing from Nov. 2 to 3, 2009. Scholars from many countries and international organizations will take part in the event.

The Beijing Forum on Human Rights provides a platform where many different points of view can be heard and organizers hope its open-discussion format will help build common ground.

In 2004, respect for and safeguarding of human rights was written into the Chinese Constitution. In April this year, the Chinese Central Government formulated and issued its first National Human Rights Action Plan, setting out an all-around plan for human rights development in China in the next two years.

These developments mean that human rights have developed from being a purely political concept to a legal one. Carrying forward these constitutional provisions into government policy and the judicial process is China's long term goal.

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