BEIJING, Aug. 26 (UPI) -- China plans a three-year national program beginning next year for human rights development, a top Cabinet official said.
The national human rights action plan is designed to improve people's basic rights, China Daily reported, quoting Wang Chen, minister of the State Council Information Office.
Wang said the program will set goals of improving people's rights in employment, social security, health and education. He said a similar action plan for 2009 to 2010 has been fully implemented, the report said.
Amnesty International has said there are widespread rights violations in China -- including the detainment of thousands without charge or trial -- while harassment, surveillance, house arrest and imprisonment of human rights defenders are all on the rise. The group has documented rising censorship of the Internet and other media.
In his announcement at a seminar, Wang urged about 70 Chinese experts on human rights studies to be innovative and enrich Chinese human rights theories, China Daily reported.
Other experts were quoted as saying the West continues to disregard major progress made in China while criticizing it without supporting facts.
Wang said China will "make active responses" to the international community's concerns about its human rights record.
