China on Thursday released a new National Action Plan on Human Rights for the period 2026-2030. The document was presented at the opening of the 2026 Global Forum on Human Rights Governance in Beijing, and according to CGTN, it aims to ensure that the status of the people as the main body of society is respected and that the fundamental interests of the people are protected.
The action plan also aims to promote social justice and ensure that the benefits of modernization are shared fairly by all people. The document is divided into an introduction and eight chapters. It was presented jointly by representatives of the members of the joint meeting mechanism for the national action plan in the field of human rights.
China has issued several similar documents in recent years. The new plan is the fifth of its kind and follows the previous action plan for the period 2021-2025. According to the published document, the implementation of its objectives has led to significant progress in the protection of human rights and has also contributed to stability and certainty in the field of global human rights development.
One of the main components of the new plan is the strengthening of economic, social, and cultural rights. China aims to consolidate the achievements made in poverty alleviation over the next five years, promote the right to work, improve public employment services, and strengthen rights in the areas of social security, property, health, education, and culture.
The document also focuses on civil and political rights. According to the plan, China will further improve the mechanisms for their protection, expand the organized participation of the public in political affairs, and ensure that people participate in democratic elections, consultations, decision-making, management, and oversight in accordance with the law. The plan also emphasizes that respect for human rights must permeate legislation, law enforcement, the judiciary, and the observance of laws.
Environmental rights also play a significant role in the document. China aims to strengthen the modern system of ecological management, improve the disclosure of environmental information, promote public participation, and advocate for a green, low-carbon, and healthy lifestyle. The plan includes continued efforts to combat pollution of the air, water, soil, seas, noise, and solid waste, and reaffirms the goal of reaching peak carbon emissions by 2030.
Another section is dedicated to the protection of the rights of ethnic minorities, women, children, the elderly, and people with disabilities. The document emphasizes the common prosperity of all ethnic groups, the fundamental state policy of equality between men and women, and further improvements in the protection of vulnerable groups.
The new action plan also addresses emerging areas of human rights. It specifically mentions digital and intelligent technologies, which are intended to improve the quality of life for residents. It also includes support for corporate responsibility in the field of human rights, including through the assessment of corporate social responsibility in public procurement and the provision of training and support to businesses.
According to the document, China aims to further strengthen education in the field of human rights and public awareness. The plan includes incorporating the current Chinese perspective on human rights into the national education system, utilizing digital technologies, and developing research institutions, think tanks, and educational resources.
The presentation of the document was part of the Global Human Rights Governance Forum 2026, held in Beijing with the participation of over 400 Chinese and foreign guests from more than 100 countries. Representatives from the United Nations and other international and regional organizations were also present. The forum is being held to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the adoption of the UN Declaration on the Right to Development, and its main theme is promoting human rights through development.
Li Shulei, a member of the Politburo of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and head of the Propaganda Department of the Central Committee of the CPC, also spoke at the forum. According to CGTN, participants praised China for its long-term efforts to strengthen the protection of human rights and for achieving historic progress in this area. They also called on all countries to jointly promote the development of human rights civilization and the building of a community with a shared future for humanity.
The forum includes five thematic sub-forums. These forums address issues such as the impact of the Global Governance Initiative on human rights, the right to development in the era of artificial intelligence, the modernization and development of people, and the importance of sustainable development for the protection of human rights.
According to the new action plan, China intends to actively contribute to global human rights governance, promote genuine multilateralism, and support the protection of human rights through security, development, and cooperation. The document also emphasizes China's participation in the UN's human rights agenda, dialogue based on equality and mutual respect, and the strengthening of solidarity and cooperation with all countries.
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