Progress in Human Rights over the 40 Years of Reform and Opening Up in China

White Paper

Progress in Human Rights over the 40 Years of Reform and Opening Up in China

(December 2018)

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

Progress in Human Rights over the 40 Years of Reform and Opening Up in China

Contents

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2018 marks the 40th anniversary of reform and opening up in China. The Communist Party of China (CPC) has led the people in carrying out this great new revolution in the new era – one that holds the key to the destiny of contemporary China. Reform and opening up has helped to liberate and develop social productive forces. It has opened up a path of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and ushered in a new chapter in the development of human rights.

I. Firmly Establishing a Governance Principle of Respecting and Protecting Human Rights

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I. Firmly Establishing a Governance Principle of Respecting and Protecting Human Rights

Since the launch of reform and opening up in 1978, “respecting and protecting human rights” has been written into the reports to CPC National Congresses, the Constitution of the People's Republic of China (PRC), the Constitution of the Communist Party of China, and strategies and plans for national development, becoming an important principle of governance for the CPC and the Chinese government.

II. Better Protecting the Rights to Subsistence and Development

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II. Better Protecting the Rights to Subsistence and Development

Over the past 40 years, China has worked to better protect basic human rights, with its primary focus on the rights to subsistence and development. Development is China's top priority in governance and considered to be the key to addressing the country's main problems.

III. Fully Developing Human Rights in All Respects

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III. Fully Developing Human Rights in All Respects

Over the past four decades since the launch of reform and opening up, China has taken all-round development of the human being as the intent and goal of human rights. It has made comprehensive progress in all human rights, ensured economic, social and cultural rights, and enhanced the mechanisms guaranteeing civil and political rights.

IV. Ensuring the Rights of Special Groups

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IV. Ensuring the Rights of Special Groups

Over the 40 years since reform and opening up was introduced in 1978, China has improved various mechanisms for ensuring its citizens' rights, adopting targeted measures to create opportunities for special groups in pursuit of self-development and life goals. The legitimate rights of ethnic minority groups, women, children, the elderly, and the disabled are protected.

V. Comprehensively Promoting the Rule of Law for Human Rights

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V. Comprehensively Promoting the Rule of Law for Human Rights

Over the four decades since the launch of reform and opening up, from strengthening the legal system, to governing the country by law, and thence to comprehensively promoting the rule of law, China has worked hard to protect human rights throughout. It has endeavored to ensure that a well-conceived approach is taken to legislation, that law is strictly enforced, that justice is impartially administered, and that the law is observed by everyone.

VI. Facilitating the Development of Human Rights in the World

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VI. Facilitating the Development of Human Rights in the World

Over the past 40 years of reform and opening up, China has redoubled its efforts to promote human rights, sharing its experience in this regard with the rest of the world, and creating more development opportunities for all countries. China follows the principle of achieving shared growth through discussion and collaboration in global governance, with a mission of making more and greater contributions to humanity.

VII. Active Participation in Global Governance of Human Rights

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VII. Active Participation in Global Governance of Human Rights

Over the 40 years of reform and opening up, upholding the principles of equality and mutual trust, inclusiveness and mutual learning, and cooperation and win-win benefits, China has been active in UN human rights undertakings, fulfilling its international human rights obligations, conducting extensive international cooperation on human rights, and advancing the global governance of human rights in a fair and rational direction.

VIII. Path of Human Rights Protection Suited to National Conditions

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VIII. Path of Human Rights Protection Suited to National Conditions

Over the past four decades of reform and opening up, China has made significant progress in human rights, creating a new path of human rights protection based on China’s history and national conditions, and the successful experiences of other countries. This path is the result of the Chinese people’s experimentation in practice and theoretical innovation led by the CPC, and embodies the essence of socialism with Chinese characteristics.

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The past 40 years of reform and opening up have seen a growing sense of gain, happiness and security, and noteworthy progress in the cause of human rights in China. It is a fact that the Chinese people have never enjoyed a more extensive range of human rights than they do today.