China Promotes Children's Development, Rights Protection

China has substantially promoted its children's development and rights protection since it became the 105th signatory of the "Convention on the Rights of the Child" adopted by the 44th United Nations General Assembly this day 20 years ago.

The Chinese government has always implemented the strategy of making children a priority in its development, and has ensured the implementation of children's rights to life, protection, development and participation, said Su Fengjie, deputy head of the Office of the National Working Committee on Children and Women under the State Council, at the launch of the 2010 State of the World's Children report in Chinese Friday morning.

Over the past years, China has revised the Constitution, the "Law on the Protection of Women's Rights", the "Law on the Protection of Minors", the "Infectious Diseases Prevention and Control Law" and the "Compulsory Education Law". It has basically formed a relatively complete legal system on the protection of children's rights, she said.

In 1992 and 2001, the government promulgated and implemented the "Chinese Children's Development Plan in the 1990s" and "Outline for the Development of Chinese Children (2001-2010 )" national action plans to fulfill its international commitments, protect children's rights and promote children's development.

All provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities), prefectures (cities, districts) and county governments have formulated and implemented development programs for children in their own regions, ensuring the realization of the major objectives for children in the sectors of health, education, protection and the environment, Su said.

The central and local governments have increased investment in children's education, health, social security and other public services, she said.

At present, China is preparing for its national drive to promote child development in 2011-2020, she said.

China, a developing country, has 310 million people under 18.

"China still faces challenges to child development and rights protection, which are worsened by the imbalanced development among regions in this large country," Su said.

"The Chinese government will, as always, adhere to the purpose and principles of the convention and make unswerving endeavors to champion the rights of children.," she said.

Major media organizations in the world have launched a 24-hour relay broadcast for children's rights on Universal Children's Day, which falls on Friday.

(Xinhua News Agency November 20, 2009)