Summary of the Seminar Commemorating the 30^(th) Anniversary of the Release of the White Paper Entitled Human Rights in China

On November 1,1991,the State Council Information Office of the People’s Republic of China issued its first white paper entitled Human Rights in China.In the past 30 years,China’s human rights cause has developed rapidly,and relevant theoretical research has been continuously improved.On October 15,2021,the Seminar Commemorating the 30;Anniversary of the Release of the White Paper Entitled Human Rights in China was held in Beijing.It focused on three topics:the theoretical significance of the white paper,its discourse building and its practice.The meeting held that the Chinese human rights philosophy emphasized in the white paper is in line with China’s national conditions and development path philosophy,and is a typical achievement of adapting Marxism to Chinese conditions.Over the past 30 years since the release of this white paper,China’s human rights cause has completed the basic work of theoretical building and path exploration,and meanwhile,China has established a human rights discourse system and human rights protection system in line with China’s history and development stage,participated in global human rights cooperation,and contributed Chinese wisdom to the advancement of the world’s human rights cause.

The Discourse Practice of the White Papers on Human Rights and Their Sociocultural Function: 1991-2021

2021 marks the 30;anniversary of China’s first white paper on human rights.Textual sorting and discourse analysis of the white papers over the years since then reveals how China’s expression of“human rights”demonstrates its endogenous power and sense of autonomy in human rights development.As a discourse practice,the white papers on human rights have gradually refined the rights to subsistence and development,expanded and expressed social rights,responded to the real needs of society,and charted the progress in the legal protection of human rights.The white paper on human rights is the official text for understanding China’s human rights cause,as it proceeds from a“practical”perspective to give full play to the social and cultural functions of subject identity,concept cultivation,and communication media and unleash the potential power of multiculturalism,thus laying a solid foundation for enhancing the discourse power of domestic and international human rights.

A Brief Review of Discourse Changes in China's Human Rights White Papers

Comparative analysis of China’s human rights white papers provides a valuable perspective on changes in the official human rights discourse. In terms of their structures, the white papers can be divided into three types: the mixed model, the five-in-one model and the rights-list model. The rights-list model has a consistent style, standard terminology, and an arrangement of rights in line with China’s reality. In terms of contents, the right to subsistence has been gradually reduced and the right to development is increasing. In the 2013 white paper, there was a whole chapter on social security rights, which highlights China’s social development and the priority placed on the people’s wellbeing. The right to development and social security will become a new focus of human rights discourse in China.

Publicizing China's Human Rights——A Case Study on Human Rights White Papers

Human rights issues are practical political issues in the realm of international relations. Publicizing hu man rights to the rest of the wold i： one key means of spreading the tru image of a rising and responsibl large country. Effective publicit3 regarding human rights developmen can help China win undersandin and respect from the internationa community for China＇s human rightt policies, show the image of a demo cratic, progressive, civilized ant open large country, and create favor. able global public opinion for China Since the Communist Party of Chin （CPC） attaches great importance tc publicity regarding key human right, issues of economic and social signifi. cance in China and of international concern as well, it has organizec relevant press conferences and corn. piled white papers on human rights. White papers are important means fol China to publicize its human right, progress to the rest of the world anc are important windows by which foreign countries can understanc China＇s policies, principled stand, and achievements related to humar rights. Based on a review of Chinese government white papers, this article discusses the work, function and modes of human rights publicity.

Practical Logic and Discourse Interpretation of China’s Efforts to Safeguard the Right to Subsistence

The Communist Party of China has led the Chinese people to write a brilliant chapter of national development over the past century,wherein the nation has sounded a clarion call for safeguarding the right to subsistence and made fruitful achievements in this regard.However,there is still room for improvement in its systematic discourse of the right to subsistence.To accurately understand the Chinese theory on the right to subsistence,we must base it on China’s historical background and social reality.Through mining the white papers on human rights progress in China over the years and analyzing Chinese practices recorded thereby,we can figure out the practical logic for the country’s efforts in the protection of the right to subsistence,and with this as a clue,we can further interpret its discourse on the right to subsistence.Issues related to the right to subsistence can be divided into two levels:“basically solved”and“truly solved”.The former involves the settlement of the most fundamental issues closely related to the right to subsistence in fields like food,education,medical care,housing,and drinking water,and the latter corresponds to“improvement”in the right to subsistence.While consolidating and upgrading the existing basic rights,China works to enable its people to truly gain a foothold in society and achieve their aspiration for a better life through combining assistance and support from the government and society and the efforts of individuals.Understanding the right to subsistence in a dynamic and developmental manner is instrumental in better understanding the alignment between the right to subsistence and other human rights.

The Basic Direction of China's Human Rights Development

In 1991,the State Council Information office released the white paper Human Rights in China,which promoted China’s progress towards an era of protecting rights.The Chinese government has always believed that human rights development is compatible with economic development,and on this basis has continuously adjusted the level of human rights protection and practices.In terms of goals,China has developed from meeting people’s basic needs to delivering a better life;in terms of role positioning,China has transformed from an active participant to an active promoter;in terms of development mode,China has shifted from balanced development to coordinated advancement;in terms of discourse expression,China has changed from political discourse to law-based discourse.