China To Issue Human Rights Plan: Official
From Reuters:
China will issue a “human rights action plan” that an official said will seek to improve citizens’ rights over the next two years, state media reported Tuesday.
The action plan would be the first of its kind for this one-party state that faces constant criticism from international rights groups for censorship and jailing peaceful dissidents and protesters, as well as rising demands from increasingly assertive citizens.
An official in the government’s public relations department said the plan showed the ruling Communist Party was committed to improving citizens’ rights.
Origin: , Reuters
POSTED COMMENTS: 10 Responses
Is this real?
I would like to hear more about this, what does this really mean? Or is it just another propaganda piece?
Thanks
Diane
interesting!! they say something and do others behind the scenes. first and most important, if they are serious, release all the activists, jounalist and others from prison then we will see..otherwise communist officials are crook and bunch of thugs.
[...] in Ms Zeng’s post are all in Chinese. China Digital Times has more details about China’s human rights action [...]
[...] Los Angeles Times reports on reactions to the Chinese government’s “human rights action plan“: In an article published in state-run news media, the State Council Information Office said [...]
If China can call the champion of peace, the Dalai Lama a wolf in a monk’s robe, they can just about create anything for propaganda purposes.
[...] in Ms Zeng’s post are all in Chinese. China Digital Times has more details about China’s human rights action [...]
I would say it is likely the CCP actually means what they say. However we should remember the precedent concerning the definition of human rights in China. CCP documents and statements as well as those by the foreign ministry show that China defines human rights in terms of economic development and raising living standards. Thus the human rights issues foreign observers consider: freedom of speech, press, religion, assembly, selection of leaders, etc, are not likely to be on the table in any meaningful sense.
Yes, I like the way they pay lip-service to human rights while not usually mentioning the fact that they have their own definition that doesn’t have much in common with the Universal Declaration and that just happens to fit in with their own economy-first priorities.
It depends on what the objective of the plan is. If it’s merely for propaganda purposes, the truth will be known sooner or later. But if it’s to improve the CCP’s “face” in international affairs, then it’ll have to take into account some elements of international criticism. No, China is not going to become a liberal democracy tomorrow, but there maybe improvements here and there, which is better than nothing.