China calls for promoting inclusive societies for persons with disabilities

China on Tuesday highlighted the importance of promoting inclusive societies for disabled persons and eliminating prejudice and discrimination against them.

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the 20th anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

Speaking at a side meeting of the ongoing 55th Human Rights Council, Chen Xu, head of the Chinese Mission to the United Nations in Geneva, said that China is ready to work with all parties to take the anniversaries as an opportunity to take concrete measures to eliminate the difficulties faced by persons with disabilities.

He put forward three proposals on promoting the rights of disabled persons: to promote inclusiveness and eliminate prejudice and discrimination against persons with disabilities; to accelerate the construction of barrier-free and age-appropriate facilities and establish a sound rescue system; and to promote employment and entrepreneurship of persons with disabilities and guarantee their equal participation in economic, social and cultural affairs.

Chen pointed out that China attaches great importance to the rights of persons with disabilities. It has promulgated and implemented more than 90 laws protecting the rights and interests of disabled people, such as the Barrier-free Environment Creation Law, which took effect in September 2023, aiming to build a barrier-free living environment for the disabled. 

China has also established a subsidy system covering over 27 million persons with disabilities, and created special programs to promote the employment of disabled women, said Chen.

(Cover: A person with disabilities is getting on a barrier-free bus, Ningbo City, east China's Zhejiang Province, October 20, 2023. /CFP)