Rights of persons with disabilities better protected

China achieved historic progress in protecting the rights and interests of persons with disabilities (PwDs) during the 13th Five-Year Plan period (2016-20), said Cheng Kai, vice chairman of the China Disabled Persons' Federation (CDPF), at a press conference held by the State Council Information Office on Sunday.

PwDs' right to survival steadily guaranteed

By the end of the 13th Five-Year Plan period, through targeted poverty alleviation, 7.1 million registered PwDs in poverty had been lifted out of absolute poverty. About 1.08 million PwDs received assistance and support for extremely poor people. Over 10 million PwDs lived on minimum living allowances. Over 12 million disabled people with financial difficulties received living allowances, and over 14 million severely disabled people received nursing care subsidies.

The basic pension insurance coverage for urban and rural disabled residents exceeded 90 percent and their basic medical insurance coverage reached 95 percent.

Families with disabled members and financial difficulties in poverty-stricken areas now live in safe buildings. During the poverty alleviation period, 429,000 registered disabled households had their houses renovated for greater safety.

During the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, zero infections were seen at disability service institutes at all levels as the governments made their best efforts to safeguard the safety and health of the disabled.

PwDs' right to development better realized

According to Cheng, employment for PwDs has steadily improved. During the 13th Five-Year Plan period, the employed population of the disabled in urban and rural areas increased by 1.81 million. More and more PwDs were hired or self-employed with more decent incomes.

Public services for the disabled were greatly elevated. Rehabilitation assistance was offered to 967,000 disabled children to relieve family burdens. The basic rehabilitation service coverage and assistive device coverage for PwDs both exceeded 80 percent.

The enrollment rate of disabled children in compulsory education exceeded 95 percent. About 58,000 disabled students have entered colleges and universities. Barrier-free environment construction was carried out in urban and rural areas, which helped renovate the homes of about 650,000 severely disabled families and made their lives more convenient.

The legitimate rights and interests of PwDs were effectively safeguarded. A service hotline and online legal aid system for the disabled were established. Legal consultancy services were provided to about one million PwDs and legal aid cases for the disabled exceeded 230,000. The number of disability-related suggestions and proposals submitted during the two sessions reached 431.

PwDs are playing a more important role in participation in and deliberation of State affairs, with 6,637 PwDs, their family members and disability workers serving as deputies to the people’s congresses and members of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) committees at all levels.

Guarantee mechanism for PwDs' rights and interests improved

During the 13th Five-Year Plan period, over 20 laws and regulations, including the Civil Code, had specific stipulations for safeguarding the rights and interests of PwDs.

More than 8,000 service facilities for the disabled were built. Special surveys on basic service conditions for the disabled and their needs were conducted. A database covering the entire registered disabled population was established, setting a foundation to provide better targeted services to them.

Society became more understanding and friendly towards PwDs. In terms of international exchanges, the CDPF was invited to important international occasions, such as sessions held by the Commission for Social Development under the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, the Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the UN Human Rights Council meetings.

CDPF Chairperson Zhang Haidi was re-elected as president of Rehabilitation International. China’s achievements and experience in human rights protection for the disabled were widely recognized by the international community.

The roles of disability organizations were fully tapped. The standardization construction of grassroots disability organizations was further propelled and the organization system covering urban and rural grassroots communities was gradually improved. Disabled persons’ federations at all levels earnestly performed their functions and special disability associations became more active in serving PwDs under the Party’s leadership.