Opinion / Op-Ed Contributors

Push for new developments in China's human rights

(China Daily) Updated: 2014-12-24 08:02

5. We must adhere to the principles of inclusiveness and mutual learning in order to inherit and promote traditional Chinese culture while absorbing and learning from the beneficial achievements of human civilization as a whole. Traditional Chinese culture is rich in political wisdom and moral resources, serving as an inexhaustible source of contemporary Chinese ideas on human rights. While we have looked to our national conditions and historical and cultural traditions, we have also always been open to absorbing the wisdom offered by achievements in the development of human rights made by other countries. The cause of human rights in China can only thrive and contribute to the accelerated development of world human rights when the country can make use of, inherit and promote its traditional culture in addition to absorbing and learning from valuable achievements in human rights made throughout human history.

Third, by holding fast to the spirit of the 18th CPC National Congress and the Third and Fourth Plenary Sessions of the 18th CPC Central Committee, China will endeavor to improve the overall development of its human rights project.

In the next phase of the implementation of the Action Plan, we will act on the spirit of the 18th CPC National Congress and the Third and Fourth Plenary Sessions of the 18th CPC Central Committee; uphold the great banner of socialism with Chinese characteristics; follow the guidance of Deng Xiaoping Theory, the important theory of the "Three Represents", and the Scientific Outlook on Development and deepen the implementation of the spirit of a series of important speeches made by Xi Jinping. We will also earnestly implement the strategic plan of the CPC Central Committee to comprehensively deepen reform and advance the rule of law. In accordance with the requirements of the Action Plan, we will focus on fulfilling key tasks in the development of human rights and the rule of law, promoting innovations in the theory and practice of human rights and boosting international exchange and communication on human rights in order to better promote social fairness and justice, increase people's well-being and advance the development of socialist human rights with Chinese characteristics to new heights.

1. We will emphasize guaranteeing the completion of key tasks so as to meet all objectives set out in this phase of the Action Plan on schedule. Departments and units at various levels should thoroughly review the relevant objectives and their implementation schedules and formulate timetables and road maps for unfinished tasks based on each unit's respective conditions so that these tasks can be fulfilled one by one. The key to improving civil and political rights is to further improve the construction of the democratic system, to diversify the forms of democracy, to broaden the channels for democracy and increase citizens' orderly participation in politics. We will hasten to open government affairs and broaden the scope of people's right to be informed about laws, regulations and policies. We will also strengthen restrictions on and supervision of the exercise of power, and we will intensify administrative accountability. We will pay greater attention to broadening the scope and variety of social security, increasing the quality and level of social security and guaranteeing balanced development across different areas and different groups. China will strictly enforce its accountability system for major environmental and pollution accidents. In order to protect human rights in the judicial system, we should ensure that all criminal, civil and administrative litigation is performed properly by protecting citizens' legal rights from infringement and providing access to effective judicial aid.

2. We will comprehensively advance rule of law and strengthen the guarantee of human rights by law. We should take the application of the spirit of the Fourth Plenary Session of the 18th CPC Central Committee as an opportunity to accelerate the development of human rights based on rule of law, providing an essential, universal and lasting institutional guarantee for the long-term development of the cause of human rights. We will strengthen human-rights-related legislation in key sectors and build a legal system that perfectly realizes equality in rights, opportunities and rules in order to protect citizens' personal rights, property rights and basic political rights from infringement and guarantee the fulfillment of citizens' economic, cultural, social and other rights. We will improve the restriction and supervision system for law enforcement and judicial powers to prevent the infringement of people's lawful rights and interests through the abuse of law enforcement and judicial power, ensuring fairness and justice in every case.

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