China: Citizens’ Rights in Congress Spotlight

By Huiyu Yin

This year, the National People’s Congress (NPC) will meet in Beijing on March 2. Under China’s Constitution, the NPC is the “supreme organ of state power” and “supervises the enforcement of the Constitution” (art.62).

Though traditionally thought to be a “rubber stamp parliament” that has no authority over the real power-holding institution, the Communist Party of China (CPC), the NPC has been increasingly influential in proposing and passing legislation. Human Rights Watch urges the NPC to exercise its power to strengthen the rule of law and protection of human rights in China.