China drawing up new human rights action plan

China.org.cn, July 13, 2011

Wang Chen,?director of the State Council Information Office, speaks at the assessment meeting of the 2009-2010 national human rights action plan.

China is drawing up a new human rights action plan for the next four years to improve the country's human rights record, said a senior Chinese official.

The National Human Rights Action Plan of China (2012-2015), the country's second document of the kind, has the "aim of expanding democracy, enhancing the rule of law, improving the people's livelihood and safeguarding human rights," according to Wang Chen, director of the State Council Information Office (SCIO).

The new plan will incorporate parts of the country's 12th Five-Year Plan (2011-2015) and the mid- and long-term development plan of various government departments, Wang Chen said.

A joint meeting mechanism will be?created to make, implement and supervise the plan. The SCIO, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, government agencies, nongovernmental organizations and research institutions will take part in the mechanism.

An assessment meeting of the 2009-2010 plan, the country's first human rights action plan, was held on July 12, 2011.