Academic Forum on Protection of Vulnerable Groups' Rights

On March 19, an academic forum was held in Jinan City, Shandong Province, on protection of vulnerable groups’ rights. Sponsored by the Law School of Shandong University, it gathered some 50 experts from the Central Patty School, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, China Society for Human Rights Studies, Shandong Higher People’s Court, as well as some research universities in the country. Four subjects were discussed at the forum: definition of vulnerable groups, legal principles for protection of vulnerable groups’

ON THE RIGHTS PROTECTION OF VULNERABLE GROUPS UNDER THE PREVENTION AND CONTROL OF A PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS:A LITERATURE REVIEW AND PERSPECTIVE FOR FUTURE DIRECTIONS

The legal system for prevention and control of a public health crisis rests on two pillars:human rights protection and good governance.This duality is well illustrated by substantively equal treatment of vulnerable groups in a pandemic from the perspectives of public service,social inclusion,accessible environment,gender equality,and right to health.A review of literature on this topic shows that current research needs to address the gap between“life supremacy”and“equal protection”in the area of human rights protection,and the gap between“putting people first”and“strict control at the grassroots level”in the area of good governance.The research should employ intersectional methodology to highlight the rights logic of the socialist legal system and the key role of the Communist Party of China’s leadership in balancing individual versus community rights,enhancing the governance capability for participation by multiple social agents,ensuring equal protection for disadvantaged groups,promoting inclusive and sustainable development,and realizing the common prosperity of all the people.

Socio-economic vulnerability level in the Jeneberang watershed in Gowa Regency,South Sulawesi Province,Indonesia

Jeneberang watershed is vital,particularly for people living in Gowa Regency(South Sulawesi Province,Indonesia),who benefit from its many advantages.Landslides and floods occur every year in the Jeneberang watershed,so it is imperative to understand the socio-economic vulnerability of this region.This research aims to identify the vulnerability level of the Jeneberang watershed so that the government can prioritize areas with high vulnerability level and formulate effective strategies to reduce these the vulnerability.Specifically,this study was conducted in 12 districts located in the Jeneberang watershed.The primary data were collected from questionnaires completed by community members,community leaders,and various stakeholders,and the secondary data were from the Landsat satellite imagery in 2020,the Badan Push Statistic of Gowa Regency,and some governmental agencies.The socio-economic vulnerability variables were determined using the Multiple Criteria Decision Analysis(MCDA)method,and each variable was weighted and analyzed using the Geographical Information System(GIS).The study reveals that the levels of socio-economic vulnerability are affected by variables such as population density,vulnerable groups(disabled people,elderly people,and young people),road network and settlement,percentage of poor people,and productive land area in the Jeneberang watershed.Moreover,all of the 12 districts in the Jeneberang watershed are included in the medium vulnerability level,with the mean percentage of socio-economic vulnerability around 50.92%.The socio-economic vulnerability of Bajeng,Pallangga,and Somba Opu districts is categorized at high level,the socio-economic vulnerability of Bungaya,Parangloe,and Tombolo Pao districts is classified as medium level,and the remaining 6 districts(Barombong,Bontolempangan,Bontomarannu,Manuju,Parigi,and Tinggimoncong)are ranked as low socio-economic vulnerability.This study can help policy-makers to formulate strategy that contributes to the protection of biodiversity and sustainable development of the Jeneberang watershed,while improving disaster resilience and preparedness of the watershed.

Knowledge &Utilization of Long Lasting Impregnated Nets among Housewives in Al Moneera City and Al Koozi Villages, Hodieda Governorate, Republic of Yemen 2007

Malaria is considered as one of the main health problem in the Republic of Yemen. In February 2006 National Malaria Control Program started freely distribution of Long Lasting Impregnated Nets (LLINs) for vulnerable groups to malaria infection (pregnant women and children under 5 years). After one year of distribution, there is a need to measure the use rate among vulnerable groups and explore factors affecting their use. The aim of the study was to investigate the use rate of long lasting impregnated nets among children under five years and pregnant women in Al Moneera city and Al Koozi villages of Hodieda governorate. Methodology: Cross section study with multistage sample, Random selection of one urban and one rural locality. 768 housewives were interviewed, proportionally allocated sample according to the number of vulnerable groups in each locality. Systematic random sample to select households. Results: The use rate of LLINs for vulnerable groups was 74.3% CI (71.2 - 77.4). There was no statistically significant association between the use of LLINs and residence, also with ages of housewives, occupation, type of house, but there is strong statistically significant association between use of LLINs and having correct information about how to use and to take care of them P value < 0.001, also with educational status of housewives;P value 0.03 and educational status of fathers;P value 0.01. (84%) have correct information about how to use and take care of LLINs and the main source of information was health workers who distributed them. Only 13.4% realized pregnant women as a vulnerable group to malaria infection while about 77.9% realized children as a vulnerable group to malaria infection. The main reason of LLINs use (84.8%) was protection from nuisance of insects. Conclusion and recommendations: There is shortage in the information about the protective effect of LLINs from malaria infection and the main reason of using them is protection from nuisance of insects. There is a need to increase health awareness about the role of LLINs in malaria prevention.

Anxiety in Patients and Medical Providers during the Covid-19 Pandemic

Although much existing research has focussed on the impact of the current Covid-19 pandemic on mental health in general populations worldwide, there remains a gap in knowing how it impacts those especially vulnerable to negative psychological effects. The main objective of this study was to compare the mental health impact of the pandemic on people with and without a pre-existing psychiatric history. Another objective of this study was to explore this impact on a range of variables known to favor anxiety. Results confirmed that the negative mental health impact of the pandemic is significantly higher for those who could be seen to be especially vulnerable. They also confirmed most of the predicted variables significantly favor anxiety. Overall, the findings of this study not only helped to identify and confirm groups vulnerable to negative mental health outcomes following crises, but they could also help to tailor existing treatment options to them during future outbreaks and/or other pandemics.

Research of Problems of Left-behind Children in the View of Inclusive Education

Inclusive Education is one of the most advanced educational concepts at the present time. It advocates raising the participation of children and alleviating the exclusion problems between them at the same time. Although China is a large agricultural country, under the situation of fast-growing economic development, an increasing number of adults prefer to work in big city,we call this"working fever". This situation contributes to a growing number of Left-behind children, the problem became severer. As a major receiver of basic education in China, Left-behind children may easily suffering from the problems due to their family. This violates the original intention of Inclusive Education.

An Academic Summary of the International Seminar Series on “Safeguarding the Right to Life in the Epidemic Prevention and Control”

Guided by the China Society for Human Rights Studies and organized by Southwest University of Political Science and Law,the First Session of the Series of International Seminars on"Global Epidemic Prevention and Control and Human Rights Protection"was held in Chongqing on May 9,2020.The seminar featured the theme of"Guarantee of the Right to Life in Epidemic Prevention and Control"and two sub-topics:"Value Status and Legal Protection of the Right to Life"and Safeguarding the Right to Life of Vulnerable Groups under the Pandemic".Over 40 experts and scholars from China,the Netherlands,France,Pakistan and Sri Lanka attended the conference,and conducted in-depth discussions on specific issues such as"life supremacy","attributes of the right to life","government responsibilities","protection of vulnerable groups","balance of the right to life and other human rights",and"science-based approaches to epidemic prevention".This conference reaffirmed the key idea of life supremacy,which is conducive to strengthening the safeguarding of and attention to the right to life in the global pandemic prevention and control.

The Development of Human Rights Protection in Cross-border Personality Rights and Tort Conflict Laws

Personality rights are basic rights related to human dignity in the concept of human rights protection,and respect for personality rights is the basic prerequisite for safeguarding other human rights.Human rights protection exerts a profound impact on the value of legislation and enforcement practices of private international laws in the field of cross-border personality rights infringement in various countries,which is mainly manifested in the integration of substantive justice and the humanistic care concept of protecting the rights of vulnerable groups into formal justice,and expands the development space of human rights protection ideas in cross-border personality rights and tort conflict laws.the diversity of human rights protection values determines that cross-border personality rights infringement may lead to conflicts between personality rights and other basic rights,such as freedom of speech.to reconcile such conflicts,a workable method is to prioritize personality rights protection in accordance with the hierarchy of rights theory in the value judgment of public order reservation or to clarify the limits of the right holder’s tolerance obligation through the limited application of the principle of proportionality.China’s current cross-border personality rights and tort conflict law can optimize the protection of the rights of vulnerable groups by diversifying the options of available legal methods,and establish a balancing mechanism between personality rights and freedom of speech,so as to improve China’s legal protection system for human rights in the field of foreign-related civil and commercial affairs.