Latest  News

Re-education to be reformed
China will advance reforms to the controversial re-education through labor system this year, according to a national political and legal affairs work conference on January 7.

Official voices

Meng Jianzhu, Secretary of the Commission for Political and Legal Affairs of the CPC Central Committee: The CPC Central Committee has deliberated over (the reform) and "the system of re-education through labor is expected to come to a stop this year once the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) approves the proposal." Before approval by the NPC Standing Committee, the use of re-education penalties should be strictly controlled, and the system shouldn't be applied to petitioners.

Background

Re-education system in China

In place since 1957, China's re-education through labor system allows police to detain people for up to four years without an open trial, something that has triggered enormous public outcry recently as many believe it contradicts the law.

Currently there are 260,000 people being held in 350 re-education through labor centers nationwide.

The biggest loophole in the system is lack of supervision. Even the public security bureau has the right to send a person to a re-education through labor center for up to four years.

View  Points

Expert opinions:

Qu Xinjiu, a criminal law professor with the China University of Political Science and Law:

"There are loopholes in China's current legal system where people who threaten the safety of others are not necessarily subject to punishment by the law. China may not be fully ready to abolish the re-education policy until we have figured out a way to close the loopholes."

Pu Zhiqiang, a lawyer who has defended several victims of the re-education system:

"Halting the policy alone is not enough. The policy is a severe violation of human rights and needs to be abolished."

Ma Huaide, vice president of the China University of Political Science and Law:

"The public would welcome the abolishment of the system. The NPC should amend laws concerning labor camps in order to maintain the stability and validity of the system after reforms are carried out."

Media Comments:

GT editorial: Everyone is responsible for rule of law

This is true not only in terms of an increasing output of legislation, real actions have been done to promote strict law enforcement and combat the tendency to bend the law for selfish ends. There is no doubt that our government is determined to promote the rule of law.

Media digest: Re-education reform rife with challenges

The Beijing Times also held in an opinion piece  that the re-education system is unconstitutional, and that the law also prohibits any illegal detention or any other illegal ways that strip or limit citizens’ freedom.

The Wuhan-based Changjiang Daily published a commentary, saying authorities are coping with a slew of new issues, such as providing an explicit definition of the system, reassignment of current staff and resistance from those who are benefiting from the current system.

Related  Cases

Ren Jianyu
	Schooling the system A story about Ren Jianyu, 25-year-old former village official, who was ordered to serve two years in a re-education-through-labor institution for "attacking" the Chongqing municipal government's "red" campaign More news: Red song critic continues legal fight to restore reputation Chongqing court rejects re-education appeal 'Red Song' detention appealed Comments: Ren’s release doesn’t clear up freedom of speech issues
Tang Hui
	Mother seeks justice, gets 18 months in labor center A story about Tang Hui, a mother who tenaciously fought for justice for her daughter who was forced into prostitution six years ago when she was only 11 years old. More news: Distraught mother's detention reviewed Probe launched after petitioning motheris sent to labor camp in China Mother of underage rape victim freed Comments: Push forward reform on a two-way track
Peng Hong
	Man acquitted from labor re-education A story about Peng Hong, a man who was jailed without trial for forwarding a satirical cartoon about Chongqing's anti-mafia campaign in 2009

More  News

Reports:
Petition calls for end to labor re-education
Forced labor forces rethink
Calls strengthen for controversial punishment through labor to be scrapped

Comments:
Punishing criticisms outdated in today’s China
Time to finally abolish unconstitutional system
Reform of labor re-education system inevitable