A proposal on presenting China’s efforts in building a barrier-free environment to the international community was selected as one of the 60 excellent proposals for 2024 by the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee.
The proposals were selected in line with relevant CPPCC National Committee documents and evaluation criteria, which constitute about one percent of the total proposals of the year.
In recent years, significant progress has been made in building a barrier-free environment for people with disabilities in China. The Law of the People's Republic of China on Building Accessible Environments officially came into effect in September 2023 with the aim of ensuring equal participation of people with disabilities in social life, and promoting the sharing of the fruits of economic and social development by all the people of the society, which also put Chinese expertise at the service of international human rights work.
The proposal on disability access, which was formulated by Chen Xu and other CPPCC National Committee members, focused on promoting China’s achievements in building a barrier-free environment and participating in the formulation of international accessibility standards on international platforms, especially multilateral ones. It was devised through extensive research, comprehensively outlining the growing global attention on accessibility issues and the advantages China holds in the development of a barrier-free environment.
The proposal is deemed important for the comprehensive development of the cause of people with disabilities in the process of Chinese modernization.
The China Disabled Persons' Federation has worked closely with relevant departments, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to implement the proposal and has achieved positive outcomes. On Oct 10, China, on behalf of 30 countries including Cameroon, Honduras, Pakistan and Turkey, submitted a resolution to the 57th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council titled "Promoting Accessibility for the Full Enjoyment of All Human Rights by All", which was adopted by consensus. The resolution will raise levels of understanding on accessibility issues, enhance international cooperation in relevant areas, and promote the sound development of human rights protection globally, representatives of several countries said at the UN session.
In recent years, CPPCC National Committee members have paid significant attention to the cause of persons with disabilities and their standards of living. Each year, they put forward dozens of proposals on topics such as rehabilitation, education, employment, social security and the building of a barrier-free environment for people with disabilities, which have been well received by both the CPPCC National Committee and relevant departments.
These proposals have made positive contributions to promoting high-quality development and prosperity for people living with disabilities.