An evaluation report released on Friday confirmed that China has fully implemented its National Human Rights Action Plan (2021-2025), accomplishing all 181 tasks outlined in the five-year program. The China Society for Human Rights Studies and 20 national education and training bases jointly issued the assessment. Moreover, the report concluded that the action plan drove steady progress in human rights protection across the country.
China’s economic expansion supported the successful action plan directly. GDP reached 140.19 trillion yuan in 2025, a 5.0 percent increase from the prior year. Meanwhile, per capita disposable income rose to 43,377 yuan, also up 5.0 percent nominally. Consequently, rising living standards and a more equitable distribution of gains have anchored the rights to subsistence and development.
The action plan also led to measurable social improvements. Average life expectancy climbed to 79.25 years, while infant mortality dropped to 3.8 per 1,000 live births. Furthermore, nearly nine million certified persons with disabilities held jobs nationwide. These figures, the report noted, reflect broader access to education, healthcare, and social security.
Poverty reduction served as a pillar of the action plan. Over four decades, China lifted nearly 800 million people out of poverty by the World Bank’s standard. In fact, that accounted for close to three-quarters of global poverty reduction during the period. Additionally, the report highlighted environmental rights as a growing priority. The Ecological and Environmental Code, enacted in March, strengthened legal protections. As a result, people now enjoy cleaner air and water alongside economic gains.
Beyond domestic achievements, the action plan also shaped global engagement. The report emphasized that China pursues a human rights path tailored to its own conditions. It integrates universal principles with national realities and rejects using human rights as a tool for interference. Meanwhile, China actively participates in global governance reform and contributes solutions to shared challenges. The action plan thus functions as both a domestic roadmap and an international signal.
Looking ahead, the report suggests that the action plan’s success will inform the next phase of rights protection. The 181 completed tasks provide a baseline for future targets. Officials and scholars will likely build on this foundation to address emerging issues. For now, the report frames the action plan as concrete proof that development and rights progress can advance together.
