China Publicizes Human Rights Action Plan

Guaranteeing civil rights

"China endeavors to develop socialist democracy, improve the socialist rule of law, expand the orderly political participation of citizens and guarantee people's civil and political rights in an all-around way," the document says.

In the plan, the country promises to observe more stringent judicial procedures for issuing the death penalty and the supreme court's review of cases in which the death penalty is issued.

China will improve the trial procedures in death penalty cases, the document says, adding that second-instance trials for all death penalty cases will be open to the public and the review of the death penalty should include the questioning of the defendant and hearing the opinions of his or her attorney, if the attorney so demands.

The supreme court will publicize typical cases to clarify standards for applying the death penalty, it says.

Measures will also be adopted to protect the rights of the citizens involved in lawsuits and law enforcement activities. For instance, the country will equip police investigation rooms with sound and video recording devices as well as video surveillance systems to prevent any violation of citizens' rights.

It will also step up efforts in investigating and punishing officials who abuse their power and violate citizens' rights in cases such as those involving illegal detention.

Protecting religious freedom

In the plan, the Chinese government pledges to protect religious activities in accordance with the law.

The country will improve the organization and management of the Hajj, or the Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca, and provide better services for pilgrims, the document says.

The government will provide financial support for the construction of new school buildings in the Buddhist Academy of China as well as the expansion and improvement of the China Islamic Institute.

More money will be budgeted for rebuilding and expanding religious venues in Tibetan-inhabited areas in Sichuan, Yunnan, Gansu and Qinghai provinces.

Government transparency

In a bid to protect the people's right to be informed, the government will work to make government affairs public and push forward the disclosure of government information, the document says.

"Priority will be given to the disclosure of government information in the areas of financial budgeting, allocation of public resources, approval and implementation of major construction projects and construction of social welfare undertakings," the plan says.

The country will also steadily push forward the disclosure of auditing information, especially the results of investigations of major cases.

It will establish a system of informing the public of leading officials' appointments and dismissals, the document says.

Vacant leadership positions and related job responsibilities, as well as basic information of the candidates for such posts, will be announced within an appropriate span of time.