Deng Pufang, president of the
China Disabled Persons'
Federation (CDPF), has been awarded the 2003 United Nations
Prize in the Field of Human Rights, which is definitely an honor
for Deng personally, but it is also a tribute to China's efforts to
help the handicapped as a whole.
Moreover, it should be regarded as a
historic breakthrough for China in the field of human rights
.
China's achievements in helping its
disabled population and other vulnerable groups prove that China,
the world's largest developing country, is capable of making
progress in the field of human rights in line with the country's
real situation.
Since China launched its reform and
opening drive in 1978, the government has taken the rational option
of dealing with the issue its human rights, with the focus on the
protection of the rights of needy groups, as they find it more
difficult than others to make a living.
Over the past 25 years, the
government has amassed enormous funds to launch a series of major
programs to assist vulnerable groups, including the
poverty-eradication program in remote areas, paying for the
education of children from poor families, helping the disabled with
professional training and medical rehabilitation, and protecting
the rights of rural laborers working in cities.
Deng and his CDPF have made
spectacular strides, with over 8 million disabled people
rehabilitated, 74 percent of disabled children studying in schools,
millions of similar people trained with working skills, and 84
percent of persons with disabilities employed.
Commenting on Deng's prize-winning
success story, a Foreign Ministry spokesman put it simply: "Deng
deserves it." Deng has not only brought back a big honor for China
in the field of human rights, but has highlighted the great effort
made by the government to help these vulnerable groups.
(People's Daily December 12,
2003)
