Chinese official hails nation´s first human rights action plan

Source: Xinhua | 04-14-2009 10:25

BEIJING, April 14 (Xinhua) -- A senior Chinese official on Tuesday hailed the publication of the nation's first human rights action plan as a major step in promoting the cause's all-round development in the country.

"It signals that the human rights cause has become a major theme of China's national construction and social development, and has been ushered into a new phase of planned, all-round development," said Wang Chen, minister in charge of the State Council Information Office, which issued the National Human Rights Action Plan of China (2009-2010) on Monday.

"It will help foster and promote the concept of respecting and safeguarding human rights at various levels of governments, in different sectors and the whole society at large, and forcefully propel the human rights cause in China," Wang said in an interview with Xinhua and the People's Daily.

The plan defines the Chinese government's goals in promoting and protecting human rights in less than two years, and the specific measures it is taking to this end.

The 54-page document is divided into five sections: Economic, Social and Cultural Rights; Civil and Political Rights; Rights and Interests of Ethnic Minorities, Women, Children, Elderly People and the Disabled; Education in Human Rights; Performing International Human Rights Duties, and Conducting Exchanges and Cooperation in the Field of International Human Rights.

Wang said practicability and feasibility constituted the most distinctive features of the action plan.

"It is dedicated to improving human rights through solving actual problems concerning the general public's interests," he said.

Wang said the plan involved broad participation of more than 80relevant government departments and non-governmental organizations.

"The drafting process has become one of awareness enhancement and responsibility implementation," he said.