Spotlights(2016.02-03)
February, 2016
Regulations concerning menstrual pain leave a step in the right direction
Women in Anhui Province can take 1-2 days off when suffering menstrual pain so long as they provide a medical certificate, according to the latest labor regulations established by the Anhui provincial government. Anhui is not the only province to take this stance. Other regions, such as Jiangsu Province and Guangdong Province, are also looking to implement similar regulations.
From: Global Times
97% Tibetans hold personal health records
Over 3 million Tibetans, accounting for 97 percent of Tibet’s population, hold personal health records, according to Tibet’s Health and Family Planning Department.
From:chinahumanrights.org
Xi completes media tour, stresses Party's leadership
On March 19, Chinese President Xi Jinping visited the country's three leading media providers and urged them to strictly follow the leadership of the Party.
On the morning of Feb.19,2016, Xi visited the People's Daily, the flagship newspaper of the Communist Party of China (CPC), Xinhua News Agency, the state news agency, and China Central Television (CCTV), the country's broadcaster.
On the afternoon of Feb.19,2016, Xi, also General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee, presided over a symposium on the Party's media work, which was attended by the heads of the three media outlets, and about 180 central media officials, Beijing municipal officials, and representatives of journalists, editors and TV anchors.
From: Xinhua
Xinjiang to train more bilingual teachers
Xinjiang vows to step up teachers training to close the gap between supply and demand for bilingual teachers in the next five years in southern Xinjiang, according to Xinjiang’s education department.
From: chinahumanrights.org
China’s supreme court addresses public concerns over urban planning
“The guideline on urban planning was introduced at the national level and will undergo a legislation process,” said Cheng Xinwen, an official from the Supreme People’s Court (SPC) at a press conference on Feb.23,2016 .
The new guideline was released on February 21, which calls for opening up newly built communities and old communities gradually to deal with urban problems such as traffic congestion.
From: chinahumanrights.org
Official: opening up communities not simply “removing walls”
The street-and-block system which aims to gradually open up gated communities to ease traffic congestion is not simply tearing down walls, according to the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development (MOHURD) on Feb.24,2016.
From: chinahumanrights.org
China encourages eco-friendly burials
China vows to promote eco-friendly burials and encourage joint burial of family members to increase land usage and curb rising grave prices, according to a guideline on green burial jointly issued by 9 ministries recently.
From: chinahumanrights.org
March, 2016
Multiple new laws to take effect in March
Several laws and regulations at national and local levels that deal with issues including domestic violence and immovable properties will take effect from March 1, 2016.
The first anti-domestic violence law clearly states that schools, medical institutes and social workers should report to the police in a timely manner once they find suspected abuses.
The relevant authorities must take actions when domestic violence is reported and offer assistance for the victims.
From: chinahumanrights.org
China releases 1st white paper on court reforms
China’s Supreme People’s Court (SPC) released its first white paper on judicial reforms of China’s courts on Tuesday.
A total of 471 courts nationwide were on the list of reform pilots last year, said Li Shaoping, deputy head of the SPC.
11 out of 29 reform missions have been accomplished and most of the rest have obtained some achievements.
From: chinahumanrights.org
Chinese officials expound on green burials
Officials from nine ministries explained the newly-released guideline on green burials on February 29, 2016.
The introduction of green burials is necessary for China’s development. After 60 years of funeral reform to save land resources and protect the environment, more efforts are still needed.
Green burials will reduce people’s financial burdens while meeting their needs. Public cemetery service will be improved and the cost of of private cemeteries will be controlled.
From: chinahumanrights.org
Chinese Muslims enjoy religious freedom
Religious freedom of Chinese Muslims has been protected and their legal awareness has been enhanced, said Guo Chengzhen, vice chairman of China Islamic Association (CIA).
“In recent years, Chinese Muslims conducted their religious activities under the law,” Guo said.
In order to meet the needs of the Muslims who move from west China to work in the east, local governments have established temporary religious sites for them.
China has established over one hundred mosques for female Muslims.
From: chinahumanrights.org
China's top political advisory body starts annual session
China's top political advisory body convened its annual meeting on March 3, kicking off a political high season that will continue with the opening of the country's top legislature later this week.
Yu Zhengsheng, chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee, opened the session at the Great Hall of the People in the heart of Beijing.
From: Xinhua
China's national legislature opens annual session
The 12th National People's Congress (NPC), China's national legislature, opened its fourth session on the morning of March 5 at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.
Premier Li Keqiang delivers a government work report at the opening meeting, chaired by Zhang Dejiang, chairman of the NPC Standing Committee and executive chairperson of the session's presidium.
Nearly 3,000 NPC deputies attended the opening meeting along with top Party and state leaders Xi Jinping, Yu Zhengsheng, Liu Yunshan, Wang Qishan and Zhang Gaoli.
From: Xinhua
NDRC minister gives press conference on 13th Five-Year Plan
Xu Shaoshi, minister in charge of the National Development and Reform Commission, gives a press conference for the fourth session of China`s 12th National People`s Congress (NPC) on the country`s economic and social development and the draft outline of the 13th Five-Year Plan, in Beijing, capital of China, March 6, 2016.
From: Xinhua
China’s one-child policy has “historic role”
China's population policy adjustment from the one-child policy to the two-child policy is both timely and proper, Fu Ying, spokesperson for the fourth session of the 12th National People's Congress, said at a press conference on March 4, 2016.
The one-child policy, which was adopted over 30 years ago and has helped curb explosive population growth, has played a historic role in China, Fu said.
The policy change is also part of the efforts to counter China’s rapidly aging population.
From: chinahumanrights.org
China ratchets up anti-pollution effort
China will intensify its efforts to reduce pollution, Premier Li Keqiang said in his annual Government Work Report on March 5, citing as an example ambitious targets in fighting smog that will increase the number of days with good air quality.
From: China Daily
China Focus: China outlines supply-side structural reform plan
China's government work report, presented on March 5, emphasized strengthening supply-side structural reform through cutting low-end supply while increasing high-end supply and public products and services.
From: Xinhua
China cracks down on illegal GM crops
China stresses genetic modification (GM) safety and vows to strengthen supervision of GM activities, Chinese Agricultural Minister Han Changfu said at a National People's Congress press conference on March 7.
From: chinahumanrights.org
Minister: China needs a more flexible employment model
China’s current employment model does harm to workers’ interests and reduces job opportunities, China’s Finance Minister Lou Jiwei said at a National People's Congress press conference on Monday.
Lou said the model was established based on standard labor time according to China’s Labor Contract Law, which actually offered more protection for elder employees rather than the new.
From: chinahumanrights.org
Five-year development plan endorsed by NPC committee
The draft outline of the 13th Five-Year Plan on national economy and social development was endorsed by the National People's Congress (NPC) Financial and Economic Committee (FEC) at a meeting on March 9.
The draft has been examined by NPC deputies as well as the FEC and related committees since it was submitted on Saturday to the NPC annual session.
From: Xinhua
Xinhua Insight: NPC hopes charity law can help poverty fight
A draft of China's first bill regulating charities was submitted to the national legislature on March 9, with lawmakers hoping it can give donors confidence to help the country meet its poverty alleviation targets.
From: Xinhua
Xi stresses environmental protection, poverty relief in ethnic regions
Chinese President Xi Jinping called for greater environmental protection, poverty relief and development in the country's ethnic regions on March 10.
He made the remarks when joining national lawmakers from the northwestern province of Qinghai during the annual parliamentary session.
Xi listened to opinions from eight lawmakers on green development, medical reforms, equal access to education, ethnic unity and targeted poverty relief.
From: Xinhua
Minister of Environmental Protection gives press conference on sidelines of NPC session
Chinese Minister of Environmental Protection Chen Jining gives a press conference on how to promote environmental protection on the sidelines of the fourth session of China`s 12th National People`s Congress in Beijing, capital of China, March 11, 2016.
From: Xinhua
China Headlines: China defends human rights in judicial practice
A more efficient and fairer justice system has improved human rights protection in China with many wrongful convictions corrected, court proceeding streamlined and lawyers' rights better protected.
The achievements were outlined in the work reports of the Supreme People's Court (SPC) and Supreme People's Procuratorate (SPP), which were submitted to the ongoing parliamentary session on March 13.
From: Xinhua
China keeps "high pressure" on corruption: reports
China's judicial authorities said Sunday the country had maintained "high pressure" on corruption to press on with an anti-graft drive lasting more than three years.
A total of 22 Chinese former officials at ministerial level or above, including former Chinese leader Zhou Yongkang, were prosecuted in 2015, while 41 were subject to investigation, a report on the work of the Supreme People's Procuratorate (SPP) read.
From: Xinhua
State Council Information Office holds press conference on US human rights situations
The Information Office of the State Council holds a press conference on human rights situations of the United States, in Beijing, capital of China, March 14, 2016.
From: Xinhua
China's top political advisory body to conclude annual session
The 12th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), China's top political advisory body, began the closing meeting of its annual session on March 14.
From: Xinhua
Experts urge U.S. to stop politicizing human rights
Human rights experts on Monday urged the United States to improve its own human rights record and stop using human rights as a foreign policy tool.
The United States has yet to address many severe human rights issues of its own, a fact widely recognized by the international community and by many inside the country, Li Yunlong, a professor at Party School of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, told a press conference in Beijing.
From: Xinhua
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang meets press
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang arrives for his press conference after the closing meeting of the fourth session of China`s 12th National People`s Congress at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 16, 2016.
From: Xinhua
China adopts charity law
On March 16,China's national lawmakers approved the charity law with 2,636 affirmative votes, 92.49 percent of the total.
The new law, adopted at the annual legislative session and to take effect in September, eases restrictions on fundraising and operations of charity groups, promises tax benefits for charitable activities, and tightens scrutiny on their internal management.
From: Xinhua
China's legislature annual session closes
The National People's Congress (NPC), China's legislature, concluded its annual session on the morning of March 16.
Zhang Dejiang, chairman of the NPC Standing Committee who presided over the closing meeting, said the session reviewed and approved the outline of the 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-2020) on economic and social development, which requires the implementation of the concept of innovative, coordinated, green, open and shared development.
From: Xinhua
Tibet builds service centers for orphans and seniors
In the past three years, Tibet has built 80 service centers for the elderly and 10 orphanages, providing care services for a total of 11,633 people enjoying five guarantees and 5,652 orphans.
The “five guarantees” refer to guarantees on proper food, clothing, housing, medical care and funeral expenses for the poor.
From: chinahumanrights.org
Full Text: Report on the Work of the Government
Full text of the Report on the Work of the Government delivered by Premier Li Keqiang at the Fourth Session of the Twelfth National People's Congress on March 5, 2016 and adopted on March 16, 2016.
From: Xinhua
Full Text: Work report of NPC Standing Committee
Full text of the Report on the Work of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), which was delivered by Chairman Zhang Dejiang of the NPC Standing Committee on March 9, 2016 for review at the Fourth Session of the 12th NPC and adopted on March 16, 2016.
From: Xinhua
Chinese vice premier urges boosting structural reform
On March 20,2016, Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli said that China would beef up supply-side structural reforms to make a good start for the 13th Five-Year Plan period.
He made the remarks while attending the opening ceremony of China Development Forum 2016 in Beijing.
From: Xinhua
Full text: Report on China's central, local budgets
Full text of the report on the execution of the central and local budgets for 2015 and on the central and local draft budgets for 2016, which was submitted for review on March 5 at the Fourth Session of the 12th National People's Congress and was adopted on March 16.
From: Xinhua
Chinese human rights delegation visits Europe
A Chinese human rights delegation led by Yang Guang, director of the Human Rights Research and Education Center of Dongbei University of Finance & Economics (DUFE) visited Sweden, Denmark and Holland from February 16 to 25.
The delegation extended in-depth exchanges with local academic institutes. This visit demonstrated that Chinese human rights scholars are active in conducting international exchanges.
From: chinahumanrights.org
China’s first anti-domestic violence law a new milestone
China’s first anti-domestic violence law, which took effect on March 1, 2016, marks a significant milestone in protecting human rights.
From: chinahumanrights.org
Chinese premier meets leaders from Mekong River countries
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang met respectively with leaders from countries along the Mekong River on the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC) and each country's bilateral ties with China.
The leaders, including Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, Lao Prime Minister Thongsing Thammavong, Myanmar Vice President Sai Mauk Kham, and Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh, were here for the first LMC leaders' meeting held in Sanya of southern China's Hainan Province on March 23,2016.
From: Xinhua
Premier Li stresses livelihood improvement at Boao Forum
On March 24,2016, Premier Li Keqiang highlighted the improvement of people's livelihood in areas including employment, education, medical care, old-age care and housing.
Achievement in development should be manifested in the improvement of livelihood, which in turn fuels consumption and economic growth, Li said.
He made the remarks here while delivering a speech at the opening ceremony of the 2016 annual conference of the Boao Forum for Asia in China's Hainan Province.
From: Xinhua
China to provide adult education for 1.5 mln migrant workers
The Chinese government will provide free adult education for 1.5 million migrant workers in the next five years to improve literacy and work skills, the Ministry of Education said on March 24.
From: Xinhua
Beijing extends maternity and paternity leave
On March 24, Beijing authorities announced that couples in the capital will enjoy longer maternity and paternity leave.
The move comes after a change in the country's family planning policy last year allowing couples to have a second child.
According to the city's new population and family planning regulation, mothers in Beijing are entitled to at least 128 days of maternity leave after having their first or second child, 30 days longer than the previous allowance. Maternity leave may be extended to a maximum of seven months, if the organization they work for allows it.
Fathers are entitled to a 15-day paternity leave, the regulation said.
From: Xinhua
Serfdom-free Tibet marches toward greater prosperity
On March 28, 1959, about 1 million Tibetans broke the chains of serfdom in a historic democratic reform. Fifty-seven years on, the autonomous region once beset by inequality and oppression has witnessed encouragingly fast economic growth and better-than-ever standards of living.
In 1959, a new page was turned. The democratic reform, which centered on abolishing serfdom, was one of the most comprehensive and profound social changes in human history.
From: Xinhua
Chinese president meets with Czech counterpart
Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Czech President Milos Zeman at the Lany presidential chateau in central Bohemia, Czech Republic, March 28, 2016. Xi started a three-day state visit to the Czech Republic from Monday, the first state visit by a Chinese president in 67 years since the two countries established diplomatic ties.
From: Xinhua
New regulation to enhance social security fund management
The State Council on Monday published a document on the regulation of social security fund.
The majority of social security fund comes from central government budget, state-owned capital and the fund's investment return, according to the regulation.
The fund, which is managed by the National Council for Social Security Fund, will supplement and regulate social security expenditure including pensions, the document said.
The regulation also stipulates multiple risk prevention and control measures for the fund's operation and management, and provides the range of the fund's investments, internal control systems and management of fund managers.
From: Xinhua
Team set up to look into illegal sales of vaccines
On March 28, the government vowed to thoroughly investigate the recently exposed scandal involving vaccines worth 570 million yuan ($88 million).
The State Council has set up a special team to look into the regulatory system that failed to stop the nationwide distribution of substandard vaccines since 2011.
The team comprises officials from the China Food and Drug Administration, National Health and Family Planning Commission, Ministry of Public Security, Ministry of Supervision and — most noticeably — the Supreme People’s Procuratorate, in addition to a committee of experts.
The team, led by Bi Jingquan, head of the China Food and Drug Administration, will proceed under the supervision of an inspection team led by Ding Xiangyang, deputy secretary-general of the State Council.
From: China Daily
China to count left-behind children
China will carry out a nationwide census on rural left-behind children, those whose parents work away from home, to ensure proper arrangements for their lives and education.
From: Xinhua
China vows justice to the extremely poor
“China will ensure justice to those extremely poor in receiving assistance and supporting services,” said Li Liguo, China’s Civil Affairs Minister on March 28,2016.
Li said the civil affairs departments at all levels should specify the “extreme poverty ”standards and take targeted measures to offer assistance. In addition, the assistance service centers in rural areas will be improved.
From: chinahumanrights.org
China, Australia hold seminar on female inmates
China-Australia seminar on the treatment of women inmates was held in Changsha of China’s Hunan province on March 30.
The two-day seminar was jointly sponsored by China’s Ministry of Justice and Australia’s Human Rights Commission.
The two countries exchanged views on the management of women’s prisons and women prisoners’ education and rights protection.
From:chinahumanrights.org
Chinese president arrives in Washington for Nuclear Security Summit
On March 30,Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Washington for the fourth Nuclear Security Summit (NSS) in a sign of his country's firm commitment and constructive approach to safeguarding radioactive materials around the world.
From: Xinhua
