CRI听力：China to Change Law to Better Protect Disabled

Chinese lawmakers are contemplating revising the Law on Protection of the Disabled in an effort to better safeguard the rights and interests of disabled people. The draft amendment, if passed, is expected to provide this group of people with better access to employment, social security and political rights, as well as improve living standards. CRI's Zheng Chenguang reports.

The draft amendment conveys a message that the disabled should be guaranteed the right to play an equal role in society and share the fruits of China's economic and social development.

It has been submitted to the National People's Congress, China's top legislature, for further deliberation.

China's Civil Affairs Minister Li Xueju says the new draft is a revision to the previous one, which took effect in 1991. It aims to "tackle new circumstances and problems" cropping up amid economic and social advances, especially political rights for disabled people.

"The draft amendment stipulates that the country should take measures to ensure that the disabled can take part in the management of the country's state, economic and cultural affairs, as well as social affairs. Disabled people and related organizations have the right to put forward ideas and suggestions to better conditions for the disabled."

According to the China Disabled Persons' Federation, per person income in households with disabled members is less than half the country's average.

Meanwhile, about 43 percent of disabled people above the age of 15 are illiterate, a much higher rate than China's overall illiteracy rate for the same age bracket, which stands at around 6 percent.

The draft urges governments at all levels to take measures to provide better education and more jobs for the country's disabled citizens.

"Governments above the county level should provide minimum living guarantees for the disabled, and should provide other necessary aid if the minimum guarantee proves to be inadequate. The country also encourages the telecom industry and radio and television services to provide special services for people with vision, hearing and speaking impairments. "

So far, China has over 50 laws and regulations in place to protect the rights and interests of disabled people. Lawmakers have also called for better enforcement of these laws so as to reach the goal.

Zheng Chenguang, CRI News.