Promoting and Protecting the Rights and Dignity of Women with Disabilities in China

Presented at ESCAP Workshop on Women and Disability
18-22 August 2003, Bangkok

There are sixty million persons with disabilities in China. Among them, women and girls with disabilities, due to suffering from disability, and sometimes social prejudice or even discrimination, poverty, family violence, etc., unfortunately become the most difficult among the difficult groups. Hence, the government and society are obligated to play a vital role in changing the status of women with disabilities by taking concrete actions and measures to provide them more protection and care, create an enabling and empowerment conditions for women with disabilities, so they can enjoy the inherent rights and interests of human beings on an equal basis as other citizens. This is what we, in China, believe important and have learnt from our practice in the area of promoting and protecting the rights and dignity of women with disabilities.

I. A sound legal system serves as the basis for promotion and protection of the rights and dignity of women with disabilities.

According to the Constitution of P.R.C., "Any forms of maltreatment against the elderly, women and children are prohibited" and "Marriages, families, mothers and children are protected by the state". Based on the Constitution, the Law of the People's Republic of China on the Protection of Disabled Persons (hereinafter referred to as the Law on the Protection of Disabled Persons) was enacted in 1990 and has been in effect since May 15, 1991. Regulating the obligations of the government on the issue of disability and the guidelines for rehabilitation, education, employment, cultural life, welfare, environment and disability prevention of persons with disability, it is a basic law ensuring "equality, participation and sharing" for persons with disabilities, including women with disabilities. Up to now, a sound legal system has been formed for promotion and protection of the rights and dignity of women with disabilities, with the Chinese Constitution as the ground and composed of the Law on the Protection of Disabled Persons, the Law on the Protection of the Rights and Interests of Women, Marriage Law, Inheritance Law, Labor Law, the Law on the Protection of Mothers and Babies and the Regulation on the Protection of Women Workers.

These laws have been well publicized, thanks to a series of national law education programs. Public awareness on protection the rights and interests of disabled persons, especially those of women with disabilities has been then enhanced.

The Standing Committee of the National People's Congress of China has conducted inspections on a regular basis over the implementation of the Law on the Protection of Disabled Persons in the localities. The justice department and many legal service professionals have also provided legal services to disabled persons, including women with disabilities.

II Organizations at all levels ensure the implementation of laws and regulations in protecting the rights and interests of women with disabilities.

Major Organizations that are involved in protecting the rights and interests of women with disabilities can be categorized as GOs and NGOs.

GOs include State Council Working Committee on Women and Children and State Council Coordinating Committee on Disability, whose main responsibility is to stipulate guiding principles and settle important problems with a view to promoting the development of the undertaking for women with disabilities in coordination with the national economy. Three five-year work programs for disabled persons and one work program for women have been promulgated and implemented since 1990s.

There are a number of major NGOs including All China Women's Federation and China Disabled Persons Federation. These two organizations represent and serve for the rights and interests of women and persons with disabilities respectively and at the same time perform some administrative function of the government.

Through the concerted efforts of these organizations and governments at all levels, the living condition of women with disabilities in China has been remarkably improved. Women with disabilities have received rehabilitation service for sight recovery from cataract, low vision correction, polio orthopedics and treatment of mental illness. At present, women with disabilities can get employed through three means, namely, welfare factories, quota scheme and self-employment. In the recent years, the employment rate of women with disabilities through the above three ways has markedly increased in China. In addition, the state has established small bank loans for the rehabilitation and poverty alleviation of persons with disabilities. A considerable number of women with disabilities have got benefit from this program.

III International exchange and cooperation have motivated and supported the undertaking of women with disabilities in China.

Women with disabilities worldwide should be united to fight for their own interests, which has been proved by the campaign of Asia-Pacific Decade for Disabled Persons. Women with disabilities all over the world have common interests despite different complexion, language and cultural background. Mutual development can be achieved through exchange of information, resources and personnel.

Although big progress made, China, as a developing country with huge population of women with disabilities, still faces a lot of challenges and difficulties in improving status and overall living conditions of women with disabilities. Yet, the Chinese government is committed to the cause for WWD, and as always, to work in partnership with other countries for a society and better future for all.

Taking this opportunity, we would like to communicate and exchange with friends from outside China so as to make continuous contributions to worldwide movement for persons with disabilities, include women with disabilities.

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