Improvements to the Law on the Protection of Rights and Interests of Women (commonly known as the Women's Law) and the Law on the Protection of Minors have been included in the legislative plan of the 10th National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee. Related articles for the social security, civil service and farmers' rights laws are also being drafted.

The All-China Women's Federation (ACWF) submitted its draft amendments to the Women's Law to the State Council at the end of last year.

The amendments include adding the national policy of gender equality into the law's General Principles, clarifying enforcement, reinforcing the responsibilities of governmental departments and standardizing the function of the ACWF. It also specifies the ratio of female candidates to serve as People's Congress deputies.

The amended law, if passed, will clearly forbid domestic violence and sexual harassment of women, and will provide important supplements to women's rights in labor, social security and contracting land.

In 2004, the Legislative Affairs Office of the State Council worked on a series of laws and regulations closely related to women and children's rights.

Also last year, the Supreme People's Court completed the second part of its judicial interpretation of the Marriage Law, while the Ministry of Labor and Social Security, with suggestions from the All-China Federation of Trade Unions (ACFTU), helped to ensure that the Regulations on Supervision of Labor Security include sections enhancing the protection of women workers through stricter supervision of employers.

The Ministry of Civil Affairs (MCA) included the protection of women's rights in its guidance of the building of democracy in rural areas. Hunan, Henan, Gansu and Zhejiang provinces, the Tibet Autonomous Region and Chongqing Municipality all promulgated local regulations setting out quotas for inclusion of women in village committees and as delegates. The Supreme People's Court addressed the issue of rural women's rights in land contracting and related disputes.

The MCA also drafted its Rules on Helping Vagrant Children and issued a policy statement on providing educational assistance to such children. The Supreme People's Court handed down an interpretation on handling criminal cases involving minors.

The State Population and Family Planning Commission, together with the Finance Ministry, launched a program to encourage and reward rural families who adhere to the family planning policy and have female children. The commission is also cracking down on fetal gender identification for non-medical purposes in an effort to halt the growing gender imbalance.

(China.org.cn by Zhang Tingting, February 28, 2005)