ADHERE TO THE CHINESE PATH IN PROTECTING HUMAN RIGHTS

ADHERE TO THE CHINESE PATH IN PROTECTING HUMAN RIGHTS*

February 25, 2022

Respecting and protecting human rights is an ongoing commitment of China’s Communists. Since its founding in 1921, the CPC has always dedicated itself to national salvation, democracy, and human rights. The hundred years of our Party’s history tell the story of its efforts to lead the people in striving for, respecting, protecting and advancing human rights. In successive periods of history, from the New Democratic Revolution, through socialist revolution and construction, to reform and opening up and socialist modernization, the Party has never deviated from its original aspiration and founding mission — to seek happiness for the Chinese people and to revitalize the Chinese nation. The Party has led the people to resounding victories in revolution, construction and reform. Today, the people of China have become the masters of their own country, society and future. Their rights to subsistence and development and other basic rights are well protected and continue to advance. 

Since the 18th CPC National Congress in 2012, the Party has prioritized human rights as an important aspect of national governance and achieved historic progress. 

We have realized the First Centenary Goal of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects, and for the first time, eliminated extreme poverty, laying more solid material foundations for advancing human rights in our country. 

We have put in place whole-process people’s democracy and legal protection for human rights, and defended social fairness and justice. As a result, our people have enjoyed fuller and more extensive democratic rights.

We have promoted fuller and higher-quality employment, established the world’s largest education, social security, and healthcare systems, and remarkably improved the living environment of our people. 

Holding that nothing is more precious than people’s lives, we have effectively responded to the Covid-19 pandemic and protected lives and health to the largest extent. 

We have fully implemented the Party’s policies on ethnic affairs and religion, maintaining that all ethnic groups are equal, respecting all religious beliefs, and protecting the lawful rights and interests of all ethnic groups. 

To ensure lasting social stability and protect lives and property, we have continued reform of the judicial system, launched the Peaceful China initiative, strengthened the rule of law, carried out education and rectification campaigns among judicial, prosecuting and public security agencies in a bid to improve their conduct, and taken resolute action against criminal gangs and organized crime, and illegal and criminal activities. 

China is the only major country that has formulated and implemented four successive national human rights action plans. We have taken an active part in global governance on human rights, and contributed Chinese solutions to worldwide progress in human rights. 

In promoting human rights in China, we have integrated the Marxist outlook with China’s realities and the best of its traditional culture, reviewed the successful experience of our Party in respecting and protecting human rights, and learned from the outstanding achievements of other civilizations. This has enabled us to chart a course of human rights protection that follows the tide of the times and suits China’s realities. In our efforts to protect human rights, we have adopted six principles:

First, uphold the leadership of the CPC. Serving the people wholeheartedly is our Party’s fundamental purpose. It is the CPC leadership and the socialist system that have defined the socialist nature of human rights in China and ensured the status of the people as masters of the country. On this basis we are able to ensure that all our people enjoy human rights on an equal footing. We are able to plan programs and actions for the promotion and protection of human rights with systems thinking, advance comprehensive progress in all categories of human rights, and realize, safeguard and develop the fundamental interests of all the people. 

Second, respect and ensure the principal status of the people. “For the people” is the distinguishing feature of the Chinese path of human rights protection. Human rights are not a privilege exclusive to a few people, but universal rights to which everyone is entitled. We safeguard the people’s democratic rights, stimulate their enthusiasm, initiative and creativity, and enable them to become the dominant participants in, contributors to, and beneficiaries of our progress in human rights. We have made concrete efforts to promote the well-rounded development of individuals and to achieve substantial progress in common prosperity. 

Third, proceed from China’s realities. Every country should determine its human rights path based on its national conditions and its people’s aspirations. We have applied the principle of universality of human rights in the context of our national conditions, propelled progress in accordance with the people’s demands, and ensured that they enjoy full, extensive, genuine, concrete and effective human rights in accordance with the law. 

Fourth, focus on basic human rights, primarily the rights to subsistence and development. Subsistence is the foundation of all human rights. Living a life of contentment is the ultimate human right. We have implemented the new development philosophy in full, to the letter, and in all fields. We have adopted the vision of people-centered development, upholding the principle that development is for the people and by the people, and the people should share the benefits. We have stepped up efforts to address the most pressing and immediate issues of greatest concern to the people, to resolve the imbalances and insufficiencies in development, and to achieve higher-quality development that is more efficient, equitable, sustainable and secure. During the process, we have striven to give the people a greater, more solid, and more sustainable sense of gain, fulfillment and security.

Fifth, protect human rights in accordance with the law. The rule of law is the most effective means to protect human rights. Under the principle that everyone is equal before the law, we have strengthened human rights protection throughout the process of legislation, judicature, enforcement and observance of the law. We have accelerated improvements to our legal systems that ensure equal rights, equal opportunities, and fair rules for all. We have protected the citizens’ personal rights, property rights, and right to dignity; their basic political rights to engage in democratic elections, consultations, decision-making, management, and oversight; and their economic, cultural, social and environmental rights. We have made consistent efforts to strengthen legal protection of human rights. 

Sixth, take an active part in global governance on human rights. Advancing human rights is a shared undertaking of humanity, and there is always room for progress. All countries are entitled to choose their own path to advance human rights. Different civilizations and countries should respect and accept each other, and learn from each other. We have championed the common values of humanity, practiced multilateralism in the real sense, participated in reforming and developing the global governance system on issues including human rights, and contributed to building a global community of shared future. 

The above six principles, drawn from our practical experience, are the defining features of China’s human rights protection. We must do a better job in acting on these principles in the future.

* Part of the speech at the 37th group study session of the Political Bureau of the 19th CPC Central Committee.

(Not to be republished for any commercial or other purposes.)