China, which has made marked progress in poverty alleviation, still needs robust mechanisms for governmental accountability for its citizens when their rights are violated in the context of development-related activities, a UN human rights expert has said.
"China's achievements in alleviating extreme poverty in recent years, and in meeting highly ambitious targets for improving social well-being, have been extraordinary," Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights Philip Alston said.
He noted that China's President Xi Jinping has promised to eliminate extreme poverty by 2020, so that no one should be left behind. This meant lifting 55.75 million rural people out of 'extreme poverty', defined by reference to an income-based standard of USD 2.30 per day or 2,800 yuan per year.
However, an important part of the human rights dimension of the challenge has so far been neglected, Alston pointed out as he wrapped up his fact-finding trip to the country.
"China has ratified theInternational Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rightsand has consistently emphasised its commitment to guaranteeing those rights."
For these rights to be treated like human rights, rather than broad development goals, three essential steps need to be taken, including recognition of the rights in legislative or other form, creation of institutions to promote their realisation and the provision of accountability mechanisms to ensure redress for violations, he said in a statement.
Most of the rights are not specifically recognised in legislation, and no institutions exist that promote these rights as human rights. But the biggest challenge relates to mechanisms for redress and accountability, which are an indispensable component of a human rights approach, he said.
"China has much to be proud of in the field of poverty alleviation. However, if it is to effectively ensure the implementation of its economic and social rights obligations, it needs to adopt more robust mechanisms for citizen involvement and for governmental accountability," he said.
During his nine-day visit to China, the human rights expert met and engaged with the central government and with local governments, NGOs, representatives of international organisations, and academic experts in Beijing and in Yunnan province.
The Special Rapporteur will present a comprehensive report with his full findings and recommendations to the Human Rights Council in June, 2017.
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