New Progress in the Legal Protection of Human Rights in China

White Paper

New Progress in the Legal Protection of Human Rights in China

(December 2017)

The State Council Information Office of
the People's Republic of China

New Progress in the Legal Protection of Human Rights in China

Contents

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The rule of law is a symbol of human progress, and serves as the guarantee for ensuring human rights. It is the determination and ultimate goal of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the Chinese government to fully implement law-based governance of the country, strengthen legal protection of human rights in all areas, ensure that the Chinese people fully enjoy their rights and freedoms, achieve social fairness and justice, and promote overall human development and social progress.

I. Improving the Legal Framework to Ensure Human Rights

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I. Improving the Legal Framework to Ensure Human Rights

A complete system of laws is the precondition and the basis for realizing legal protection of human rights. Since the 18th CPC National Congress, China has, to a fuller extent, established the Chinese socialist legal system with the Constitution at the core, the laws as the main body, including administrative and local regulations, and various law-related departments, thus laying a solid legal foundation for ensuring human rights.

II. Promoting Law-based Administration to Protect the Citizens' Lawful Rights and Interests

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II. Promoting Law-based Administration to Protect the Citizens' Lawful Rights and Interests

Law-based administration is important in legal protection of human rights. Since the 18th CPC National Congress in 2012, China has made it clear that all government functions and powers must be provided for in the law, strictly regulated the administrative enforcement of law, strengthened checks and scrutiny over government power, and put into effect the "Implementation Outline for Building a Law-based Government (2015-2020)".

III. Effectively Enhancing Judicial Protection of Human Rights

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III. Effectively Enhancing Judicial Protection of Human Rights

The judicial system plays a significant role in human rights protection. Since the 18th CPC National Congress, China has put people first in its judicial system, integrated criminal punishment with human rights protection, pressed ahead with judicial system reform, continuously developed and improved a socialist judicial system with Chinese characteristics, and endeavored to embody fairness and justice in each and every legal case.

IV. Consolidating Social Mechanisms for Legal Protection of Human Rights

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IV. Consolidating Social Mechanisms for Legal Protection of Human Rights

A society under the rule of law serves as a social mechanism for legal protection of human rights. Since the 18th CPC National Congress, China has endeavored to raise public awareness of the rule of law and comprehensively govern the country by the rule of law, in order to create a conducive social environment for legal protection of human rights.

V. Strengthening the CPC Leadership over Legal Protection of Human Rights

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V. Strengthening the CPC Leadership over Legal Protection of Human Rights

China is a large country with a population of more than 1.3 billion. The CPC is a large party with more than 89 million members. It plays a leading role in the political life of China. CPC leadership provides the fundamental guarantee for the socialist rule of law with Chinese characteristics and is also the strongest means in China's fight to ensure legal protection of human rights.

VI. Actively Promoting the Development of Global Human Rights Under the Rule of Law

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VI. Actively Promoting the Development of Global Human Rights Under the Rule of Law

China has always safeguarded world peace and contributed to global development, and upholds the international order. China actively participates in building a legal system of international human rights, earnestly fulfills international human rights obligations, conducts in-depth international exchanges and cooperation in judicial field, and champions the healthy development of global human rights.

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China's efforts to comprehensively advance law-based governance has enabled it to take major steps in building a law-based socialist country and lift legal protection of human rights to a new level. Never before have Chinese people enjoyed such full economic, social and cultural rights and civil and political rights as today. The cause of human rights in China is making consistent progress in the right direction.