National Human Rights Action Plan of China (2016-2020)

The State Council Information Office of the People's Republic of China issued the National Human Rights Action Plan of China (2016-2020) on Thursday. Following is the full text of the document.

Contents

Introduction

I. Economic, Social and Cultural Rights

(1) Right to work

(2) Right to basic living standards

(3) Right to social security

(4) Right to property

(5) Right to health

(6) Right to education

(7) Cultural rights

(8) Environmental rights

II. Civil and Political Rights

(1) Rights of the person

(2) Right to fair trial

(3) Freedom of religious belief

(4) Rights to know and to participate

(5) Rights of expression and supervision

III. Rights of Specific Groups

(1) Rights of ethnic minorities

(2) Rights of women

(3) Rights of children

(4) Rights of the elderly

(5) Rights of the disabled

IV. Human Rights Education and Research

V. Fulfillment of Obligations to Human Rights Conventions, and International Exchanges and Cooperation in the Field of Human Rights

VI. Implementation and Supervision

Introduction

The period from 2016 to 2020 is a decisive stage for China in the building of a moderately prosperous society in an all-round way as well as a major stage for realizing the orderly, steady and sustainable development of human rights in China.

China has implemented two national human rights action plans since 2009. As the government constantly enhances the protection of human rights, the people's standard of living and quality of life have seen further improvement, their economic, social and cultural rights and interests have been strengthened, their civil rights and political rights have been guaranteed, the public's consciousness of respecting and guaranteeing human rights has enhanced significantly, international human rights exchanges and cooperation have constantly developed, and the cause of socialist human rights with Chinese characteristics has moved up to a new level.

Nevertheless, we are keenly aware that problems, some of them serious, remain. China's economic development pattern is still extensive, unbalanced, uncoordinated and unsustainable. There is still a huge gap between urban and rural development. Difficulties need to be solved in such fields as health care, education, care for the aged, food and drug safety, income distribution and the environment－all of which are closely related to the people's vital interests. The rule of law in safeguarding human rights needs to be further promoted and more efforts are required to realize higher levels of human rights protection.

Based on experience gained in the implementation of the first and second national human rights action plans, the Chinese government has formulated the National Human Rights Action Plan of China (2016-2020) (hereinafter referred to as the Action Plan) in accordance with the constitutional principle that the state respects and protects human rights and the spirit of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other related international human rights conventions, and in combination with the implementation of the Outline of the Thirteenth Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development of the People's Republic of China. The Action Plan defines the objectives and tasks of respecting, protecting and promoting human rights in the period from 2016 to 2020.