[Objectives]To explore the evolution of the legal system of farmland protection and explore the rules and characteristics of policy development based on the theory and logic of institutional change since China's r...[Objectives]To explore the evolution of the legal system of farmland protection and explore the rules and characteristics of policy development based on the theory and logic of institutional change since China's reform and opening up,reveal the problems and deep-seated reasons of its legislation,clarify the direction of farmland protection in the new period,and solve the"non-agricultural""non-grain"and ecological problems of farmland.[Methods]Literature analysis and inductive deduction methods were used.[Results]The evolution of the farmland protection legal system has gone through the process of"national consciousness-policy guidelines-institutional system",the change from"single subject to multiple subjects";change from the use of"one-way administrative means to coordinated use of administrative,economic and technical means".The practical problems of the farmland protection legal system are mainly due to the insufficient systematization of the farmland protection legal system itself,the generalization of quantity protection,the transformation of quality protection,and the absence of ecological protection.[Conclusions]It is recommended to improve the existing farmland protection legal system from the establishment of the Farmland Protection Law,the improvement of the farmland protection public participation mechanism and supervision mechanism,the establishment of the farmland quality construction and improvement system,the differentiated farmland occupation and supplementation balance system,and the ecological restoration system.展开更多
Taking Poyang Lake Eco-economic Zone as an example,we analyzed existing problems in China'forest resource protection from the perspective of legal system.The problems include unclear property right system of fores...Taking Poyang Lake Eco-economic Zone as an example,we analyzed existing problems in China'forest resource protection from the perspective of legal system.The problems include unclear property right system of forest resource,imperfect compensation mechanism for forest ecology,forest cutting quota scheme not resolutely put into practice,legal supervision of forest protection not implemented,and lack of integration in forest protection laws.Based on these problems,we put forward countermeasures and suggestions:establish clear forest resource property system;improve ecological benefit compensation mechanism in legal form;strictly implement forest cutting quota scheme;strengthen legal supervision of forest protection;and keep legal system integral for forest resource protection.展开更多
This paper examines systematic differences in earnings management through real activity manipulation and accrual manipulation across 7 Asia countries. The study proposes arguments that in economies with high investor ...This paper examines systematic differences in earnings management through real activity manipulation and accrual manipulation across 7 Asia countries. The study proposes arguments that in economies with high investor protection, managers prefer to manage earnings through real activity manipulation rather than through accrual manipulation because accrual manipulation is more likely to draw auditors or regulators scrutiny than real decisions about pricing and production. The study findings are consistent with prediction. Despite being in economies with high investor protection, managers still have bigger discretion in managing earnings through real activities rather than accrual manipulation.展开更多
In the digital age,the rise of digital human rights has become an important expansion in the field of human rights.When advancing digital prosecution strategies,prosecutorial agencies should pay greater attention to t...In the digital age,the rise of digital human rights has become an important expansion in the field of human rights.When advancing digital prosecution strategies,prosecutorial agencies should pay greater attention to the protection of digital human rights.The fragile state of digital human rights and the unique position of prosecutorial agencies in human rights protection make it imperative that prosecutorial agencies place more emphasis on fulfilling their responsibilities in legal oversight to promote the protection of digital human rights.Currently,prosecutorial agencies have strengthened the protection of digital human rights through such measures as promoting legal oversight with big data,enhancing the handling of criminal cases involving citizens'digital human rights,expanding the scope of public interest litigation protecting digital human rights,and improving their roles in civil and administrative prosecution.However,there are still challenges related to the inadequacy of updating the mindset,the incompleteness of measures,and the lack of innovation in mechanisms and systems.Therefore,prosecutorial agencies should further align with the implementation of digital prosecution strategies,update their human rights protection concepts,intensify efforts to combat cybercrime,strengthen the protection of citizens'personal information through prosecution,enhance public interest protection of collective digital human rights through public interest litigation,and actively innovate prosecutorial work mechanisms and systems to bolster the protection of digital human rights.展开更多
With large-scale engineering projects being carried out in China, a large number of fossil localities have been discovered and excavated by responsible agencies, but still some important fossils of great value have be...With large-scale engineering projects being carried out in China, a large number of fossil localities have been discovered and excavated by responsible agencies, but still some important fossils of great value have been removed and smuggled into foreign countries. In the last three years, more than 1345 fossil specimens have been intercepted by Customs in Shenzhen, Shanghai, Tianjin, Beijing and elsewhere, and more than 5000 fossils, most of which are listed as key fossils,展开更多
As an important rectifying mechanism to the involved parties-oriented civil litigation model,the mandatory attorney system requires the involved parties of a lawsuit to appoint a lawyer to represent them in the litiga...As an important rectifying mechanism to the involved parties-oriented civil litigation model,the mandatory attorney system requires the involved parties of a lawsuit to appoint a lawyer to represent them in the litigation,otherwise they will be rejected because the litigation requirements aren’t met.This seems to restrict the litigants’right to initiate a lawsuit by themselves.Through the arrangement of the system for the participation of lawyers in some litigation procedures,stages,and cases,coupled with the legal principle of litigation costs,the litigation costs sharing mechanism,legal aid,and other related supporting systems,it is not only a substantive guarantee for the litigants’right of action,but also can even strengthen the protection of the litigants’right of action in civil litigation.Based on the need to effectively protect and strengthen the litigants’right of action,combined with its civil litigation system and judicial operation environment,China should adopt a phased and gradual strategy to introduce and implement the mandatory attorney system in civil litigation while constantly improving its lawyer system,litigation costs system,legal aid system,and other related supporting systems.展开更多
The objective of this study is to examine the effect of accounting standards and investor protection on value relevance of earnings and book value of equity among European Union countries during the years 1999-2007. T...The objective of this study is to examine the effect of accounting standards and investor protection on value relevance of earnings and book value of equity among European Union countries during the years 1999-2007. The results indicate that the adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards [IFRS] leads to improvement in value relevance, particularly on earnings. We also examine the impact of investor protection and the deviation of local accounting standards from IFRS on the effectiveness of the IFRS adoption. The results show supporting evidence for investor protection but inconclusive evidence for accounting standard deviation. However, additional analysis indicates that the countries which apparently benefit from adopting IFRS are those with high deviation of local accounting standards from IFRS and high investor protection. The findings imply that adopting IFRS alone cannot improve value relevance of accounting information, but standard setters and regulators need to strengthen their investor protection mechanisms in order to improve the quality of accounting information.展开更多
Environmental problems in the Republic of Macedonia and Albania are similar in other countries in the region. Numerous problems and deficiencies identified through different projects. The studies and planning document...Environmental problems in the Republic of Macedonia and Albania are similar in other countries in the region. Numerous problems and deficiencies identified through different projects. The studies and planning documents are evident for environmental media and areas. Such as lack of regional integrated systems for municipal solid waste management. The system for special waste types management, including hazardous waste, insufficient coverage of populated places and municipalities by wastewater collection and treatment systems (especially in agglomerations above 10,000 populations). The need to establish integrated river basin management is in accordance with the new law on waters, air pollution with different intensity in different parts of the country. This paper presents the imperative reforms to protect the natural resources and biodiversity in the countries.展开更多
In order to realize the orderly development and rational use of marine resources,construct a new marine economic development model,effectively adjust the relationship between marine resource protection and social prod...In order to realize the orderly development and rational use of marine resources,construct a new marine economic development model,effectively adjust the relationship between marine resource protection and social production,and promote the legalization and institutionalization of marine resource protection.Based on the reality,this article attempts to explore the ways and means of improving and constructing the legal system for the protection of marine resources from multiple dimensions.It aims to form a complete marine resource development system from the legal level and provide legal guarantee for the development of marine economy.展开更多
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationship between investor protection, ownership structure and corporate valuation. La Porta showed that there existed a simple linear relationship between corporate ...The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationship between investor protection, ownership structure and corporate valuation. La Porta showed that there existed a simple linear relationship between corporate valuation and the holding percentage of controlling shareholders. But recent empirical evidence does not support it. A nonlinear relationship is proved between ownership structure and corporate valuaton by relaxing the assumption of La Porta's model in this paper. There exists a positive relation between investor protection and corporate valuation. Our empirical research shows that this relation is significantly positive indeed.展开更多
The basis of the legal protection of resource security is its relative laws, which have four main characteristics, which are foundational, divergent, comprehensive and of long-term social benefits in view. The coordin...The basis of the legal protection of resource security is its relative laws, which have four main characteristics, which are foundational, divergent, comprehensive and of long-term social benefits in view. The coordination mechanism of the legal protection of resource security with its relative laws meets the needs of the sustainable development of the economy, society and environment. It also facilitates and is facilitated by the modern transformation of the legal system in China, and upholds the legal system as a logically self-perfecting entity. Furthermore, this coordination bears scientific feasibility.展开更多
The Human Immunodeficiency Virus and the resultant disease—Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome are global epidemics in recent times. Although the effects of the epidemic have been curtailed somewhat in the developed ...The Human Immunodeficiency Virus and the resultant disease—Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome are global epidemics in recent times. Although the effects of the epidemic have been curtailed somewhat in the developed world, it is not so in developing countries. As such it affects not only the infected but those directly dependent on them. Some of the affected people have been identified as children, who turn out to be unprepared for and defenceless against the imminent hardship prevalent as a consequence of the disease. The effects of the epidemic are felt more in the developing world than in developed countries and this is because the attitude of the developed world to the epidemic is positive, enhanced by awareness of the disease;whereas in the developing countries, a lot of myths are attached to it, affecting the requisite attitude needed to combat the epidemic and its effects. This paper seeks to examine the effects of this epidemic on children in Nigeria, comparing the effects on children in other African countries. The paper also looks at structures in place to cater for these children, and then seeks to proffer improved means of protecting their rights.展开更多
The object of criminal legal aid refers to the person in a criminal case who has the right or eligibility toapply for legal assistance and who receives it. According to jurispru- dence, the object (or aid recipient)...The object of criminal legal aid refers to the person in a criminal case who has the right or eligibility toapply for legal assistance and who receives it. According to jurispru- dence, the object (or aid recipient) is a party in a given legal case, who is granted legal aid. They are often among the disadvantaged group in criminal cases, since most of them are mentally challenged, lack free- dom or have health problems.' Both international and domestic laws have certain norms regarding objects of criminal legal aid. Our domestic law places more emphasis on "defen- dants" while downplaying "suspects" and "victims" in identifying objects.展开更多
Tunneling is to describe transfer resource out of the firm for benefit of their controlling shareholders. Better legal protection and stronger social norms improve minority shareholders' protection from expropriation...Tunneling is to describe transfer resource out of the firm for benefit of their controlling shareholders. Better legal protection and stronger social norms improve minority shareholders' protection from expropriation. They consequently reduce the private benefits of controlling shareholders (La Porta, 1999). This study aims to investigate tunneling in the context merger and acquisition (M&A) and to examine whether tunneling occurs only in emerging markets with poor law enforcement or whether it also occurs in developed countries. This study documents that managers are more likely to overpay target in merger and acquisition with high overlapped owner which have stakes in bidder and target firm. That overpayment, a transfer of wealth from owners of bidder's firm to overlapping owners, is a type of tunneling. This study concludes that tunneling occurs in nations not only with low investor protection, but also with high investor protection.展开更多
Subjects in clinical trials, either patients with the target disease or healthy vohmteers, inevitably run a risk of injury or even death. To protect human subjects' rights to life and health, the Declaration of Helsi...Subjects in clinical trials, either patients with the target disease or healthy vohmteers, inevitably run a risk of injury or even death. To protect human subjects' rights to life and health, the Declaration of Helsinki has been developed as "a statement of ethical principles for medical research involving human subjects. Though widely regarded as a milestone in human research ethics, it is not a law or regulation, and is unable to effectively protect human subjects' rights. In this context, China beefs up its legal protection of clinical trial subjects.展开更多
A market economy requires the individual rights of citizens be protected, and that the exercising of those rights be regulated, whose realization depends on the legalization of human rights protection On the one hand...A market economy requires the individual rights of citizens be protected, and that the exercising of those rights be regulated, whose realization depends on the legalization of human rights protection On the one hand, individual rights must be protected by law On the other hand, a law-based society needs to be built so the boundaries of individual rights are clear, the exercising of those rights are regulated, conflicts between rights can be resolved through the courts, and the personal infringement of others’ rights and the overall interests of the society is prohibited by law During the 40 years of China’s ref orm and opening-up in China, the promotion of the legal protection of human rights mainly lies in three aspects: first, the important role of the rule of law plays in protecting human rights has been clarified; second, the four steps of the rule of law(scientific legislation, strict law enforcement, judicial justice and observance of the law by all Chinese citizens) have been strengthened to safeguard human rights fully and effectively; third, the Chinese human rights system under the rule of law has gradually been aligned with international norms.展开更多
Wan Exiang, professor of the Law School of Wuhan University, doubles as justice and vice-president of China's Supreme People's Court. He is also vice-chairman of the Revolutionary Committee of the Chinese Kuom...Wan Exiang, professor of the Law School of Wuhan University, doubles as justice and vice-president of China's Supreme People's Court. He is also vice-chairman of the Revolutionary Committee of the Chinese Kuomintang, one of the democratic parties in China, and member of the Tenth National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, China's highest consulting body. Prof. Wan is reputed in China and abroad for his achievements in study of international human rights laws and also as the founder of the Wuhan University Center for Protection of the Rights of the Underprivileged in Society, the first of its kind ever set up in the country. Since its founding a decade ago, the center has won a fame for the quality legal services it renders to needy people in their tens of thousands, including disabled people, juveniles, women and workers laid off from state-owned enterprises in the course of China's economic restructuring. While a press favorite at home, the center has received coverage by the NHK TV of Japan, Washington Post of the United States, Phoenix TV of Hong Kong and numerous other media outside the Chinese mainland. Following is an interview with Prof. Wan Exiang, in which he discussed how human rights are protected under China's legal system and in what ways the system should be improved.展开更多
基金Supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China(41771565).
文摘[Objectives]To explore the evolution of the legal system of farmland protection and explore the rules and characteristics of policy development based on the theory and logic of institutional change since China's reform and opening up,reveal the problems and deep-seated reasons of its legislation,clarify the direction of farmland protection in the new period,and solve the"non-agricultural""non-grain"and ecological problems of farmland.[Methods]Literature analysis and inductive deduction methods were used.[Results]The evolution of the farmland protection legal system has gone through the process of"national consciousness-policy guidelines-institutional system",the change from"single subject to multiple subjects";change from the use of"one-way administrative means to coordinated use of administrative,economic and technical means".The practical problems of the farmland protection legal system are mainly due to the insufficient systematization of the farmland protection legal system itself,the generalization of quantity protection,the transformation of quality protection,and the absence of ecological protection.[Conclusions]It is recommended to improve the existing farmland protection legal system from the establishment of the Farmland Protection Law,the improvement of the farmland protection public participation mechanism and supervision mechanism,the establishment of the farmland quality construction and improvement system,the differentiated farmland occupation and supplementation balance system,and the ecological restoration system.
文摘Taking Poyang Lake Eco-economic Zone as an example,we analyzed existing problems in China'forest resource protection from the perspective of legal system.The problems include unclear property right system of forest resource,imperfect compensation mechanism for forest ecology,forest cutting quota scheme not resolutely put into practice,legal supervision of forest protection not implemented,and lack of integration in forest protection laws.Based on these problems,we put forward countermeasures and suggestions:establish clear forest resource property system;improve ecological benefit compensation mechanism in legal form;strictly implement forest cutting quota scheme;strengthen legal supervision of forest protection;and keep legal system integral for forest resource protection.
文摘This paper examines systematic differences in earnings management through real activity manipulation and accrual manipulation across 7 Asia countries. The study proposes arguments that in economies with high investor protection, managers prefer to manage earnings through real activity manipulation rather than through accrual manipulation because accrual manipulation is more likely to draw auditors or regulators scrutiny than real decisions about pricing and production. The study findings are consistent with prediction. Despite being in economies with high investor protection, managers still have bigger discretion in managing earnings through real activities rather than accrual manipulation.
基金the result of China Law Society’s 2022 ministerial-level legal research project entitled“The Role of Prosecuting Bodies in the Judicial Protection of Human Rights”[Project No.CLS(2022)XZX35]。
文摘In the digital age,the rise of digital human rights has become an important expansion in the field of human rights.When advancing digital prosecution strategies,prosecutorial agencies should pay greater attention to the protection of digital human rights.The fragile state of digital human rights and the unique position of prosecutorial agencies in human rights protection make it imperative that prosecutorial agencies place more emphasis on fulfilling their responsibilities in legal oversight to promote the protection of digital human rights.Currently,prosecutorial agencies have strengthened the protection of digital human rights through such measures as promoting legal oversight with big data,enhancing the handling of criminal cases involving citizens'digital human rights,expanding the scope of public interest litigation protecting digital human rights,and improving their roles in civil and administrative prosecution.However,there are still challenges related to the inadequacy of updating the mindset,the incompleteness of measures,and the lack of innovation in mechanisms and systems.Therefore,prosecutorial agencies should further align with the implementation of digital prosecution strategies,update their human rights protection concepts,intensify efforts to combat cybercrime,strengthen the protection of citizens'personal information through prosecution,enhance public interest protection of collective digital human rights through public interest litigation,and actively innovate prosecutorial work mechanisms and systems to bolster the protection of digital human rights.
文摘With large-scale engineering projects being carried out in China, a large number of fossil localities have been discovered and excavated by responsible agencies, but still some important fossils of great value have been removed and smuggled into foreign countries. In the last three years, more than 1345 fossil specimens have been intercepted by Customs in Shenzhen, Shanghai, Tianjin, Beijing and elsewhere, and more than 5000 fossils, most of which are listed as key fossils,
文摘As an important rectifying mechanism to the involved parties-oriented civil litigation model,the mandatory attorney system requires the involved parties of a lawsuit to appoint a lawyer to represent them in the litigation,otherwise they will be rejected because the litigation requirements aren’t met.This seems to restrict the litigants’right to initiate a lawsuit by themselves.Through the arrangement of the system for the participation of lawyers in some litigation procedures,stages,and cases,coupled with the legal principle of litigation costs,the litigation costs sharing mechanism,legal aid,and other related supporting systems,it is not only a substantive guarantee for the litigants’right of action,but also can even strengthen the protection of the litigants’right of action in civil litigation.Based on the need to effectively protect and strengthen the litigants’right of action,combined with its civil litigation system and judicial operation environment,China should adopt a phased and gradual strategy to introduce and implement the mandatory attorney system in civil litigation while constantly improving its lawyer system,litigation costs system,legal aid system,and other related supporting systems.
文摘The objective of this study is to examine the effect of accounting standards and investor protection on value relevance of earnings and book value of equity among European Union countries during the years 1999-2007. The results indicate that the adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards [IFRS] leads to improvement in value relevance, particularly on earnings. We also examine the impact of investor protection and the deviation of local accounting standards from IFRS on the effectiveness of the IFRS adoption. The results show supporting evidence for investor protection but inconclusive evidence for accounting standard deviation. However, additional analysis indicates that the countries which apparently benefit from adopting IFRS are those with high deviation of local accounting standards from IFRS and high investor protection. The findings imply that adopting IFRS alone cannot improve value relevance of accounting information, but standard setters and regulators need to strengthen their investor protection mechanisms in order to improve the quality of accounting information.
文摘Environmental problems in the Republic of Macedonia and Albania are similar in other countries in the region. Numerous problems and deficiencies identified through different projects. The studies and planning documents are evident for environmental media and areas. Such as lack of regional integrated systems for municipal solid waste management. The system for special waste types management, including hazardous waste, insufficient coverage of populated places and municipalities by wastewater collection and treatment systems (especially in agglomerations above 10,000 populations). The need to establish integrated river basin management is in accordance with the new law on waters, air pollution with different intensity in different parts of the country. This paper presents the imperative reforms to protect the natural resources and biodiversity in the countries.
文摘In order to realize the orderly development and rational use of marine resources,construct a new marine economic development model,effectively adjust the relationship between marine resource protection and social production,and promote the legalization and institutionalization of marine resource protection.Based on the reality,this article attempts to explore the ways and means of improving and constructing the legal system for the protection of marine resources from multiple dimensions.It aims to form a complete marine resource development system from the legal level and provide legal guarantee for the development of marine economy.
文摘The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationship between investor protection, ownership structure and corporate valuation. La Porta showed that there existed a simple linear relationship between corporate valuation and the holding percentage of controlling shareholders. But recent empirical evidence does not support it. A nonlinear relationship is proved between ownership structure and corporate valuaton by relaxing the assumption of La Porta's model in this paper. There exists a positive relation between investor protection and corporate valuation. Our empirical research shows that this relation is significantly positive indeed.
文摘The basis of the legal protection of resource security is its relative laws, which have four main characteristics, which are foundational, divergent, comprehensive and of long-term social benefits in view. The coordination mechanism of the legal protection of resource security with its relative laws meets the needs of the sustainable development of the economy, society and environment. It also facilitates and is facilitated by the modern transformation of the legal system in China, and upholds the legal system as a logically self-perfecting entity. Furthermore, this coordination bears scientific feasibility.
文摘The Human Immunodeficiency Virus and the resultant disease—Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome are global epidemics in recent times. Although the effects of the epidemic have been curtailed somewhat in the developed world, it is not so in developing countries. As such it affects not only the infected but those directly dependent on them. Some of the affected people have been identified as children, who turn out to be unprepared for and defenceless against the imminent hardship prevalent as a consequence of the disease. The effects of the epidemic are felt more in the developing world than in developed countries and this is because the attitude of the developed world to the epidemic is positive, enhanced by awareness of the disease;whereas in the developing countries, a lot of myths are attached to it, affecting the requisite attitude needed to combat the epidemic and its effects. This paper seeks to examine the effects of this epidemic on children in Nigeria, comparing the effects on children in other African countries. The paper also looks at structures in place to cater for these children, and then seeks to proffer improved means of protecting their rights.
文摘The object of criminal legal aid refers to the person in a criminal case who has the right or eligibility toapply for legal assistance and who receives it. According to jurispru- dence, the object (or aid recipient) is a party in a given legal case, who is granted legal aid. They are often among the disadvantaged group in criminal cases, since most of them are mentally challenged, lack free- dom or have health problems.' Both international and domestic laws have certain norms regarding objects of criminal legal aid. Our domestic law places more emphasis on "defen- dants" while downplaying "suspects" and "victims" in identifying objects.
文摘Tunneling is to describe transfer resource out of the firm for benefit of their controlling shareholders. Better legal protection and stronger social norms improve minority shareholders' protection from expropriation. They consequently reduce the private benefits of controlling shareholders (La Porta, 1999). This study aims to investigate tunneling in the context merger and acquisition (M&A) and to examine whether tunneling occurs only in emerging markets with poor law enforcement or whether it also occurs in developed countries. This study documents that managers are more likely to overpay target in merger and acquisition with high overlapped owner which have stakes in bidder and target firm. That overpayment, a transfer of wealth from owners of bidder's firm to overlapping owners, is a type of tunneling. This study concludes that tunneling occurs in nations not only with low investor protection, but also with high investor protection.
基金funded by the National Social Science Foundation of China (Grant No.14BFX161)
文摘Subjects in clinical trials, either patients with the target disease or healthy vohmteers, inevitably run a risk of injury or even death. To protect human subjects' rights to life and health, the Declaration of Helsinki has been developed as "a statement of ethical principles for medical research involving human subjects. Though widely regarded as a milestone in human research ethics, it is not a law or regulation, and is unable to effectively protect human subjects' rights. In this context, China beefs up its legal protection of clinical trial subjects.
文摘A market economy requires the individual rights of citizens be protected, and that the exercising of those rights be regulated, whose realization depends on the legalization of human rights protection On the one hand, individual rights must be protected by law On the other hand, a law-based society needs to be built so the boundaries of individual rights are clear, the exercising of those rights are regulated, conflicts between rights can be resolved through the courts, and the personal infringement of others’ rights and the overall interests of the society is prohibited by law During the 40 years of China’s ref orm and opening-up in China, the promotion of the legal protection of human rights mainly lies in three aspects: first, the important role of the rule of law plays in protecting human rights has been clarified; second, the four steps of the rule of law(scientific legislation, strict law enforcement, judicial justice and observance of the law by all Chinese citizens) have been strengthened to safeguard human rights fully and effectively; third, the Chinese human rights system under the rule of law has gradually been aligned with international norms.
文摘Wan Exiang, professor of the Law School of Wuhan University, doubles as justice and vice-president of China's Supreme People's Court. He is also vice-chairman of the Revolutionary Committee of the Chinese Kuomintang, one of the democratic parties in China, and member of the Tenth National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, China's highest consulting body. Prof. Wan is reputed in China and abroad for his achievements in study of international human rights laws and also as the founder of the Wuhan University Center for Protection of the Rights of the Underprivileged in Society, the first of its kind ever set up in the country. Since its founding a decade ago, the center has won a fame for the quality legal services it renders to needy people in their tens of thousands, including disabled people, juveniles, women and workers laid off from state-owned enterprises in the course of China's economic restructuring. While a press favorite at home, the center has received coverage by the NHK TV of Japan, Washington Post of the United States, Phoenix TV of Hong Kong and numerous other media outside the Chinese mainland. Following is an interview with Prof. Wan Exiang, in which he discussed how human rights are protected under China's legal system and in what ways the system should be improved.