SPOTLIGHT (2016.10-11)
OCTOBER, 2016
China, 19 EU countries sign agreements on recognition of higher education degrees
China has signed agreements on the mutual recognition of higher education degrees with 19 EU member states, including France, Germany and Italy, according to the Ministry of Education.
From: Xinhua
China calls for continued efforts to eradicate poverty
The international community should pay more attention to poverty alleviation and put it as the priority work in social development, said Wu Haitao, China's deputy permanent representative to the UN on October 5, 2016.
From: chinahumanrights.org
US report blind to China’s human rights progress
“The US has been looking at China’s human rights record with prejudice,” Liu Huawen, executive director of the Institute of Human Rights Studies of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times on October 7.
A so-called annual report on China’s human rights has been released by the US Congress, which said China’s human rights record and its market environment are deteriorating.
The report also called for the US government and the Congress to put pressure on Chinese government.
From: chinahumanrights.org
China issues annual blue book on human rights
The annual report on China’s human rights development (2016), also known as blue book of human rights, has been issued recently by China Society for Human Rights Studies (CSHRS).
From: chinahumanrights.org
China advances criminal procedure reform
China has issued a guideline on criminal procedure reform and the role of court trials in a bid to reduce wrongful convictions.
The guideline by the Supreme People's court and procuratorate, along with the ministries of public security, state security and justice, seeks to improve criminal procedure by exerting the court's role in fact finding, identifying evidence, protecting rights and impartial judgment.
From: Xinhua
China issues white paper on poverty reduction, human rights
The Chinese government on Monday issued a white paper that hailed the efforts and progress made in poverty alleviation and human rights.
The white paper, titled "China's Progress in Poverty Reduction and Human Rights," said poverty reduction is the most telling evidence of China's progress in human rights.
The white paper said China has made an enormous contribution to poverty reduction worldwide. Over the past 30 years since the launch of the reform and opening up drive, more than 700 million Chinese people have been lifted out of poverty.
From: Xinhua
China issues guidelines on implementing 13th 5-year plan
The Communist Party of China Central Committee and the State Council have issued guidelines on the implementation of the 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-2020) for economic and social development.
From: Xinhua
International symposium on human rights held in Beijing
The International Symposium of International Cooperation and China’s Perspective on Human Rights was held in Beijing on October 22, 2016. Over 50 experts from the UK, Switzerland, Swiss, Italy, Australia and China attended the Symposium which aimed to collect suggestions on building a research platform for international cooperation on human rights.
From: chinahumanrights.org
China, UK hold 23rd human rights dialogue
The 23rd human rights dialogue was held in London on Oct.27 and 28, 2016. The dialogue was co-chaired by Liu Hua, Special Representative for Human Rights Affairs of China’s Foreign Ministry and Stephen Lillie, Head of the Asia Pacific Directorate at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
From: chinahumanrights.org
China to promote international human rights cooperation
China will push exchanges and cooperation in human rights with other countries as a UN Human Rights Council member, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said Oct.31,2016.
The UN General Assembly on Friday elected China and other 13 countries to the UN Human Rights Council for a three-year term starting Jan. 1, 2017.
From: Xinhua
China opposes politicization, double standards on human rights issues: envoy
China is opposed to politicization and double standards on human rights issues, and rejects interference in the internal affairs of states under the pretext of human rights, A senior Chinese diplomat said Oct.31,2016.
From: Xinhua
China to build a unified medical insurance system in 2017
China vows to eliminate the gap between urban and rural medical insurances to build a unified medical insurance system in 2017, according to a guideline released by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security (MOHRSS) on October 9, 2016.
From: chinahumanrights.org
China making progress on gender equality, women's rights
China will work together with the international community to continue to promote gender equality, a senior Chinese official said on Oct.11, the fifth International Day of the Girl Child.
From: chinadaily.com.cn
China's organ donations increase by 50 pct in first three quarters of 2016
China has processed 2,950 organ donations in the first nine months of this year, up 50 percent year on year, according to figures unveiled by the health authority on Oct.16,2016.
From: Xinhua
China's serious illness insurance covers over 1 bln population
The number of Chinese covered by the serious illness insurance program exceeded 1.05 billion by September, a huge step in reducing medical costs for the whole nation.
From: Xinhua
China's migrant population totals 247 mln
China's migrants numbered 247 million, or 18 percent of the total population, at the end of 2015, according to an official report released on Oct.19,2016.
From: Xinhua
China to improve nursing services for seniors
Chinese civil affairs authorities have pledged to provide seniors with better nursing services by mobilizing idle social resources, according to an official circular.
From: Xinhua
More petitions accepted online
More petitions are being accepted through the online petition system, according to a working conference of the State Bureau for Letters and Calls on Oct.20, 2016.
From: chinahumanrights.org
Convention commemorating 80th anniversary of Long March victory held
On Oct.21, a convention was held to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Long March at the Great Hall of the People in downtown Beijing.
From: Xinhua
China’s human rights efforts deserve global recognition: expert
“The international community should recognize China’s contribution to human rights progress,” said Tom Zwart, professor of human rights and cross-culture law at Utrecht University in an exclusive interview with Chinahumanrights.org at the International Symposium of International Cooperation and China’s Perspective on Human Rights held on October 22 in Beijing.
China’s contributions to human rights development have yet to be recognized by western countries, said Tom.
From: chinahumanrights.org
China eyes life expectancy of 79 in 2030 health plan
China wants to increase its citizens' average life expectancy to 77.3 by 2020 and 79 by 2030, up from 76.34 in 2015, according to a plan on health development spanning the next 15 years.
From: Xinhua
Sixth Plenary Session of 18th CPC Central Committee held in Beijing
The 6th Plenary Session of the 18th Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee is held in Beijing, capital of China, from Oct. 24 to 27, 2016.
From: Xinhua
NOVEMBER, 2016
Wife of Chinese president meets First Lady of Malawi in Beijing
Peng Liyuan, wife of Chinese President Xi Jinping, meets with the First Lady of Malawi Gertrude Mutharika, also vice president of the Organization of African First Ladies Against HIV/AIDS (OAFLA), in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 1, 2016.
From: Xinhua
China invests heavily to improve education in Tibet
The central government has earmarked over 4 billion yuan (592 million U.S. dollars) to improve education in agricultural and pastoral areas in Tibet Autonomous Region.
From: Xinhua
Nuclear safety prioritized
People will be better informed about nuclear-related information and be allowed to voice their opinions if they suspect they will be impacted by nuclear activities, according to a draft law released on Oct.31.
From: China Daily
China considers new law to protect minor victims of sexual assault
Chinese lawmakers are proposing that the country relax the time limit for minor victims of sexual assault to sue their offenders.
On Oct. 31, when the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress undertook the second review of China’s civil law draft, the committee added a provision that minor victims of sexual assault be able to sue offenders as late as one year after they turn 18.
From: People's Daily Online
China’s food waste occurs at late stages: report
China’s food waste and losses mainly occur at late stages of the food supply chain such as retailing and human consumption stages, according to a recently released report by the Third World Network (TWN).
From: chinahumanrights.org
China makes new moves to protect judicial fairness
China has made a series of new moves in 2016 to strengthen judicial transparency and fairness.
From: chinahumanrights.org
China issues five-year plan to reduce greenhouse gas emission
China will reduce carbon dioxide emissions per unit of GDP by 18 percent compared with that in 2015 by the end of 2020, the cabinet announced on Nov.4,2016.
From: Xinhua
China adopts law on cybersecurity
On Nov.11,China's top legislature adopted a Cybersecurity Law to safeguard sovereignty on cyber space, national security and the rights of citizens.
From: Xinhua
China bans for-profit private schools in compulsory education program
China has banned profit-led private schools from the 9-year compulsory education system, which covers primary to junior high school, according to a revised law.
From: Xinhua
China to enhance supervision of police criminal investigations
Chinese prosecutors will intensify supervision of police criminal investigations, according to a report Saturday.
From: Xinhua
Global actions needed to fight climate change: official
Nov.4, 2016 is a historic day when the Paris Agreement to combat climate change took effect, opening a new chapter in fighting global climate change.
From: chinahumanrights.org
China vows to improve people’s health literacy
China pledges to promote health education to increase people’s health literacy by 30 percent by 2030, said Mao Qun’an, head of the Publicity Department of the National Health and Family Planning Commission (NHFPC), at a press conference on November 7th.
From: chinahumanrights.org
China pledges to cut coal emissions
China would strive to lower carbon emissions in the next five years while shouldering common but different principles, the deputy head of the Chinese delegation said on Nov.7,2016.
From: China Daily
China jails 49 for catastrophic Tianjin warehouse blasts
Courts in north China's Tianjin Municipality on Wednesday sentenced 49 people to prison, including 24 company managers and staff members as well as 25 government officials found guilty of various crimes that led to the city's warehouse blasts, which killed at least 165 people in August 2015.
From: Xinhua
China, Germany hold 14th human rights dialogue
The 14th human rights dialogue was held in Germany on Nov.8, 2016. Li Junhua(Left 2), head of the International Department of China’s Foreign Ministry, and Kofler(Right 2), Commissioner for Human Rights of the German Federal Government attended the press conference in Germany.
From: chinahumanrights.org
China allocates 3.6 trillion yuan to education in 2015
China allocated 3.6 trillion yuan (530 billion U.S. dollars) to education in 2015, marking 10-percent growth year on year.
From: Xinhua
2006 Maritime Labor Convention takes effect in China
The Maritime Labor Convention, 2006 (MLC) took effect in China on November 12, 2016, which will further protect Chinese seafarers’ rights on board.
From: chinahumanrights.org
China to improve family education
China vows to improve family education according a five-year guideline jointly released by China’s nine ministries.
90 percent of elementary and primary schools, kindergartens and vocational schools in urban areas should build parents schools and 80 percent for rural areas, according to the guideline.
From: chinahumanrights.org
Chinese president says G20 obliged to promote world economic growth
Chinese President Xi Jinping on Sunday proposed strengthened coordination on macroeconomic policy, innovation-driven development and an open world economy as prescriptions for boosting global growth.
From: Xinhua
Premier Li underlines implementation of poverty-relief measures
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang stressed solid implementation of poverty precision-relief measures.
Li, who chaired a State Council meeting on Tuesday, said that the measures should focus on old revolutionary base areas, ethnic minority and border areas and areas where lots of people still live in abject poverty to raise their own development capability.
The government will push forward a series of projects to ensure poverty will be eliminated by 2020 as planned, according to a statement released after the meeting.
From: Xinhua
9th Global Conference on Health Promotion kicks off in Shanghai
The 9th Global Conference on Health Promotion has begun in Shanghai on Nov. 21, 2016.
With the goal of highlighting critical links between health initiatives and the 2030 UN Agenda for Sustainable Development, the conference will provide an unprecedented opportunity to reassert the significance of health and health promotion at the historical moment of the Ottawa Charter’s 30-year anniversary, as well as in the first year of implementing Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It will direct and guide member states on the practical application of evidence-based health promotion concepts and techniques for achieving SDGs.
From: People's Daily Online
Chinese premier calls to deepen healthcare reform with more courage, wisdom
Premier Li Keqiang said Monday that China will deepen healthcare reform to cover both urban and rural residents with universal health care.
From: Xinhua
China vows social security reform: minister
"China will make more efforts to reform and improve its social security system to adapt to the economic and social development," said Yin Weimin, China's Minister of Human Resources and Social Security at a session of the World Social Security Summit on November 18.
From: chinahumanrights.org
China to introduce national smoking ban in public places
A national regulation banning smoking in public places is expected to be issued by the end of this year, according to the National Health and Family Planning Commission.
From: Xinhua
Guideline on children charity organization releases
The event to commemorate the 27th anniversary of Convention on the Rights of the Child and to promote a guideline on children charity organizations’ behaviors was held in Beijing on Monday.
From: chinahumanrights.org
China Focus: China vows firm support for UN
Chinese President Xi Jinping met United Nations Secretary-General designate Antonio Guterres in Beijing on Monday, vowing stronger cooperation with the UN and firm support for its work.
From: Xinhua
Progress hailed in campaign against domestic violence
On Nov.24, front-line defenders in the fight against domestic violence hailed China's progress at a roundtable discussion in Beijing, one day ahead of the 17th International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.
From: China Daily
China remains unemployment rate of 4.1 percent
“China has made 12 million jobs and controlled the unemployment rate within 4.1 percent for the past 5 years,” Zhang Yizhan, vice minister of Human Resources and Social Security (MOHRSS).
Zhang made the remarks at a seminar on job promotion policy on Nov.25, which is jointly sponsored by Ministry of the MOHRSS and International Labor Organization (ILO) in Beijing.
From: chinahumanrights.org
