Country's achievements over the last four years are recognized by the UN's Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review

The Universal Periodic Review mechanism is aimed at reviewing the human rights records of all members of the United Nations every four years. The first review of the human rights situation in China was successfully completed in 2009, and the second report on China was adopted by the UPR Working Group on Oct 25.

Wu Hailong, China's foreign ministry special envoy and head of the Chinese delegation, delivered an opening statement at the second review, giving an overall account of the progress China has made in human rights since the first review.

Despite the looming global financial crisis, China's economy has continued to grow vigorously and its human rights development has also progressed rapidly. The government has promoted human rights in a planned manner, completing the implementation of the National Human Rights Action Plan of China (2009-10) published in 2009, and publishing the new National Human Rights Action Plan of China (2012-15) in 2012.

China's legislature has adopted amendments to the Criminal Code, the Law on the Protection of the Rights and Interests of the Elderly, and others closely related to human rights protection. By 2012, new pension insurance schemes covered all rural areas and urban residents, achieving the targeted goal eight years ahead of time.

China's key indicators of health are among the highest of developing countries, and the average life expectancy of Chinese people is now 75 years. China has achieved many goals, including the targets for poverty reduction and education, ahead of the UN Millennium Development Goals schedule.

But while outlining these achievements, the Chinese delegation also expressed the difficulties and challenges the government faces in promoting and protecting human rights. The task of poverty alleviation in the world's largest developing country is daunting. Judicial injustice exists, and law enforcement officers' awareness of human rights and their abilities to exercise administration in accordance with the law still need to be improved.

Among the representatives from more than 130 countries who voiced their opinion during HRC Working Group's review on China, more than 110 countries expressed their appreciation of China's human rights development in their speeches.

Delegates from a majority of countries spoke highly of China's achievements in social and economic development, democracy and legal construction, protection of the rights of special groups, and its participation in international cooperation on human rights.

Several Western countries made recommendations for China in terms of judicial reforms and management of non-governmental organizations.

The UPR not only provides a platform for discussions with different governments, but also among civil societies.

According to UN Human Rights Council rules, non-governmental organizations can conduct information meetings as side events to introduce a country's human rights conditions during the review process. Non-governmental organizations from China strengthened their presence during the review process this time.

In the past, Chinese NGOs were rarely present at UN conferences. This time, a host of Chinese NGOs including the Society for Human Rights Studies, the All-China Women's Federation and the China NGO Network for International Exchanges organized three information meetings as side events during UPR on China. The theme of the meeting organized by the Society for Human Rights Studies was "Human Rights in China: An Integrated Approach", the theme of the All-China Women's Federation's meeting read "the Advancement of Women's Right in China" and the China NGO Network for International Exchanges organized a meeting with the theme "Chinese NGOs and human rights".

The speakers from these NGOs included not only Chinese human rights experts and NGOs officers, but also scholars from the Netherlands and Switzerland who have unique perspectives on China's human rights conditions. Through the various voices from China's civil society, the international community obtained a better and more comprehensive understanding of China's human rights situation.

What's more, the Chinese government delivered a positive response to the UPR report on China. Wu Haitao, deputy head of the Chinese delegation, said in his statement that the report is generally a constructive and balanced review of China by the working group. He also said that China will carefully study the recommendations, positively consider them on the basis of China's national conditions and present its feedback before the 25th session of the UN Human Rights Council next March.

The aim of the UPR mechanism is to promote constructive multilateral dialogues, rather than any politicized human rights confrontations. So China has devoted itself to fulfilling the purposes and objectives of the UPR with all candidness and confidence.

The author is secretary-general of the Center for Human Rights Studies at the China Academy of Social Sciences.

(China Daily 11/06/2013 page8)