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Unveiling human rights protection in China from the perspective of criminal procedure law

  • Ming Hu

    Ming Hu, University Professor, is the Dean of Guanghua Law School, Zhejiang University. He holds a Ph.D. in procedural jurisprudence from China University of Political Science and Law (2006). He has been selected as one of the Ninth National Outstanding Young Jurists in China, and is the Vice President of the Chinese Society of Criminal Procedure Law. Hu’s research focuses on procedural jurisprudence and digital jurisprudence. Additionally, he serves as the Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal of Digital Law and Governance.

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    and Tao Hong

    Tao Hong is a PhD student at Zhejiang University (China). He holds a Master’s degree in Litigation Law from Liaoning University (2023). Hong ‘s research primarily focuses on procedural jurisprudence and digital jurisprudence.

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Published/Copyright: November 5, 2024

Abstract

A significant portion of the misunderstanding surrounding China’s human rights protection stems from a failure to consider its legal progress in light of China’s unique cultural, ideological, and political contexts. The Criminal Procedure Law of China is closely linked to constitutional principles and the fundamental first generation of human rights, providing a clear framework for understanding China’s efforts in human rights protection. As widely accepted standards for human rights codification, Articles 9, 17, and 14 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) outline the right to personal liberty, privacy, and the defense of the accused. Initially, China’s Criminal Procedure Law of 1979 fell short of meeting these global standards. However, with substantial revisions in 1996, 2012, and 2018, this specific code has progressively aligned with the covenant’s requirements, marking significant strides in human rights protection in China. Despite these advances, there remains room for improving the Criminal Procedure Law, especially under the challenges of the digital age. China, alongside other nations, will focus on building a more comprehensive, robust, and globally integrated legal framework to address the forthcoming issues.


Corresponding author: Tao Hong, Guanghua Law School, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China, E-mail:

About the authors

Ming Hu

Ming Hu, University Professor, is the Dean of Guanghua Law School, Zhejiang University. He holds a Ph.D. in procedural jurisprudence from China University of Political Science and Law (2006). He has been selected as one of the Ninth National Outstanding Young Jurists in China, and is the Vice President of the Chinese Society of Criminal Procedure Law. Hu’s research focuses on procedural jurisprudence and digital jurisprudence. Additionally, he serves as the Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal of Digital Law and Governance.

Tao Hong

Tao Hong is a PhD student at Zhejiang University (China). He holds a Master’s degree in Litigation Law from Liaoning University (2023). Hong ‘s research primarily focuses on procedural jurisprudence and digital jurisprudence.

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the project of National Social Science Foundation (Grant No. 24BYY151).

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Received: 2024-03-25
Accepted: 2024-09-10
Published Online: 2024-11-05
Published in Print: 2024-12-17

© 2024 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston

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