Scorecard of China 2018-01-01 00:00:00

China 2018
47.5

International Actions

73.8%
Security Council Actions

93.8%
Inclusion of WPS-sensitive Language in All Security Council Open Debates

Criteria100% of the statements made by a state during the Security Council open debates should include WPS-sensitive language.
Analysis/Comments
AnalysisChina had 15 out of 16 Open Debates in 2018 where it made statements related to Women, Peace and Security.
Comment

WILPF/PeaceWomen themes covered:

General Women, Peace and Security:  1/16

Conflict Prevention:  2/16

Disarmament:  2/16

Displacement and Humanitarian Response:  2/16

Participation: 3/16

Peace Processes: 8/16

Peacekeeping: 6/16

Protection: 4/16

Reconstruction and Peacebuilding: 1/16

Sexual and Gender-Based Violence: 1/16

Implementation: 5/16

Justice, Rule of Law, SSR: 2/16

Human Rights: 0/16

MethodologyThe number of debates in which a state has used WPS-sensitive language at least once out of a total number of all Security Council open debates per year.
Resources

1. Meeting Records Archive, United Nations Security Council, 2018. Accessed May 20, 2019. 

 

n/a
Inclusion of WPS-sensitive Language in the Security Council Open Debates on the Threats Caused by Terrorist Acts

Criteria100% of the statements made by a state during the Security Council thematic open debates should include WPS-sensitive language.
Analysis/Comments
AnalysisInformation is currently not available.
Comment

N/A 

MethodologyThe number of debates in which a state has used WPS-sensitive language at least once out of a total number of Security Council open debates on the threats caused by terrorist acts.
Resources

1. Meeting Records Archive, United Nations Security Council, 2018. Accessed May 20, 2019. 

75.0%
Inclusion of WPS-sensitive Language in the Security Council Open Debates on the Maintenance of International Peace and Security

Criteria100% of the statements made by a state during the Security Council thematic open debates should include WPS-sensitive language.
Analysis/Comments
AnalysisChina had 3 out of 4 Open Debates on the maintenance of international peace and security in 2018 where it made statements related to Women, Peace and Security.
Comment

WILPF/PeaceWomen themes covered:

General Women, Peace and Security: 0/4

Conflict Prevention:1/4

Disarmament: 0/4

Displacement and Humanitarian Response: 0/4

Participation:1/4

Peace Processes: 0/4

Peacekeeping: 2/4

Protection: 1/4

Reconstruction and Peacebuilding: 0/4

Sexual and Gender-Based Violence: 0/4

Implementation: 2/4

Justice, Rule of Law, SSR: 1/4

Human Rights: 0/4

MethodologyThe number of debates in which a state has used WPS-sensitive language at least once out of a total number of Security Council open debates on the maintenance of international peace and security.
Resources

1. Meeting Records Archive, United Nations Security Council, 2018. Accessed May 29, 2019. 

100.0%
Inclusion of WPS-sensitive Language in the Security Council Open Debates on the Protection of Civilians

Criteria100% of the statements made by a state during the Security Council thematic open debates should include WPS-sensitive language.
Analysis/Comments
AnalysisChina had 1 out of 1 Open Debates on the Protection of Civilians in 2018 where it made statements related to Women, Peace and Security.
Comment

WILPF/PeaceWomen themes covered:

General Women, Peace and Security: 0/1

Conflict Prevention: 0/1

Disarmament: 0/1

Displacement and Humanitarian Response: 0/1

Participation: 0/1

Peace Processes: 0/1

Peacekeeping: 1/1

Protection: 1/1

Reconstruction and Peacebuilding: 0/1

Sexual and Gender-Based Violence: 0/1

Implementation: 0/1

Justice, Rule of Law, SSR: 0/1

Human Rights: 0/1

MethodologyThe number of debates in which a state has used WPS-sensitive language at least once out of a total number of Security Council open debates on the protection of civilians.
Resources

 

1. Meeting Records Archive, United Nations Security Council, 2018. Accessed May 29, 2019. 

100.0%
The Use of Veto

CriteriaA state should not apply its veto right.
Analysis/Comments
Analysis

N/A 

Comment

N/A 

Methodology100% - No veto right was used;
75% - A state uses its veto right in less than (or equals to) 50% of vetoed draft resolutions (no gender-sensitive language);
50% - A state uses its veto right in more than 50% of vetoed draft resolutions (no gender-sensitive language);
25% - A state uses its veto right in less than (or equals to) 50% of vetoed draft resolutions (with gender-sensitive language);
0% - A state uses its veto right in more than 50% of vetoed draft resolutions (with gender-sensitive language).
Resources

1. Veto List, The United Nations Security Council, 2018. Accessed May 29, 2019. 

0.0%
Commitments Intended to Strengthen the Implementation of the WPS Agenda

CriteriaAll WILPF/PeaceWomen themes should be covered in the WPS commitments.
Analysis/Comments
AnalysisIn its statements made at the 2018 Open Debate on Women, Peace and Security, China covered the following WILPF/PeaceWomen themes:
General Women, Peace and Security
Conflict Prevention
Disarmament
Participation
Peace Processes
Protection
Sexual and Gender-Based Violence
Peacekeeping
Displacement and Humanitarian Response
Human Rights
Justice, Rule of Law and Security Sector Reform
Reconstruction and Peacebuilding
Implementation
Comment

Though China did not offer any new commitments, it did emphasise progress made on the WPS agenda as it relates to peacekeeping: The Chinese Ministry of Defence and UN-Women have jointly hosted international workshops for women peacekeeping officers to encourage troop-contributing countries to actively assign and dispatch female officers to peacekeeping missions, as well as to enhance their capabilities and skills.

MethodologyThe number of WILPF/PeaceWomen themes emphasised in a statement identifies the final percentage received by a state
Resources

 

1.     Call to Action on 2015 Commitments [homepage, where commitments for years 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019 are located], WILPF, 2015. Accessed May 29 2019. 

2.     UNSC WPS Debate Commitments 2018 [PDF of WILPF analysis], WILPF, 2018. Accessed May 29 2019. 

35.0%
Women, Peace and Security Financing

35.0%
Balance Between UN Women Total Contribution and Arms Sales Revenue

CriteriaTotal contribution to UN Women should increase overtime while Arms Sales Revenue should decrease overtime.
Analysis/Comments
Analysis

UN Women Contribution increased; Arms Transfer Revenue increased.

Comment

Arms Transfer Revenue, Total Contribution in 2018: 1,566,000,000 billion [source: Importer/Exporter TIV Tables, SIPRI] 

UN Women Government Total Contribution in 2018: $2,000,000 [source: UN Women, top donors list]

Military Expenditure in 2018: $250 bn. [source: SIPRI]

as compared to... 

Arms Transfer Revenue in 2017: $1,131,000,000 

UN Women Government Total Contribution in 2017: $1,860,000

MethodologyA grade varies depending on circumstances (i.e.: positive/negative consistency in spendings, ratio between the arms transfer revenue and the UN Women contribution, etc.):
UN Women Contribution increases; Arms Transfer Revenue decreases (90-100%);
UN Women Contribution increases; Arms Transfer Revenue does not change (79-89%);
UN Women Contribution does not change; Arms Transfer Revenue decreases (68-78%);
UN Women Contribution does not change; Arms Transfer Revenue does not change (57-67%);
UN Women Contribution decreases; Arms Transfer Revenue decreases (46-56%);
UN Women Contribution increases; Arms Transfer Revenue increases (35-45%);
UN Women Contribution decreases; Arms Transfer Revenue does not change (24-34%);
UN Women Contribution does not change; Arms Transfer Revenue increases (13-23%);
UN Women Contribution decreases; Arms Transfer Revenue increases (0-12%).
Resources

1.     "Core Resources: Top 25 Donors 2018," UN Women, 2018. Accessed May 21 2019. 

2.     "Importer/Exporter TIV Tables," SIPRI. Accessed May 21 2019. 

3.     "Arms Transfers and Military Spending," Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Accessed May 21 2019. 

4.     "Trends in World Military Expenditure," SIPRI. Accessed May 21, 2019. 

5.     "Trends in International Arms Transfers," SIPRI. Accessed May 21, 2019.

52.7%
International Gender and Human Rights Indicators

81.4%
Ranking via Gender Inequality Index (GII)

CriteriaA state should be ranked first in the Gender Inequality Index (GII).
Analysis/Comments
AnalysisChina was ranked 36 among 189 participating countries in 2018.
Comment

In 2017, China was ranked 36 of 189 countries. 

Researcher's note: The 2019 Human Development Report will not be released until November 2019, as it is being significantly re-envisioned in order to "go beyond the dominant discourse focused on income disparities."

Methodology100% is received by a state that is ranked 1st; 0% is received by a state that is ranked last.
Resources

1. "Human Development Reports: Table 5: Gender Inequality Index," The United Nations Development Programme, 2019. Accessed August 13, 2019. 

31.1%
Ranking via Global Gender Gap Index

CriteriaA state should be ranked first in the Gender Gap Index.
Analysis/Comments
AnalysisChina was ranked 103 among 149 participating countries in 2018.
Comment

N/A

Methodology100% is received by a state that is ranked 1st; 0% is received by a state that is ranked last.
Resources

"The Global Gender Gap Report: 2018," The World Economic Forum [China, p. 63]. Accessed May 29 2019.

45.5%
Ratification of International Human Rights Treaties

CriteriaA state ratifies all international human rights gender-sensitive treaties.
Analysis/Comments
AnalysisChina has signed and possibly ratified the following International Human Rights Treaties in 2018:
Universal Declaration of Human Rights - signed
Universal Declaration of Human Rights - ratified
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights - signed
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights - ratified
International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights - signed
International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights - ratified
Convention on Consent to Marriage, Minimum Age for Marriage and Registration of Marriages - signed
Convention on Consent to Marriage, Minimum Age for Marriage and Registration of Marriages - ratified
Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women - signed
Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women - ratified
Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women - signed
Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women - ratified
Protocol to Prevent, Supress, and Punish Trafficking in Persons, especially Women and Children, to The Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime - signed
Protocol to Prevent, Supress, and Punish Trafficking in Persons, especially Women and Children, to The Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime - ratified
Convention for the Suppression of the Traffic in Persons and of the Exploitation of the Prostitution of Others - signed
Convention for the Suppression of the Traffic in Persons and of the Exploitation of the Prostitution of Others - ratified
Geneva Convention Relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War - signed
Geneva Convention Relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War - ratified
Protocol Additional to the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949, and Relating to the Protection of Victims of Non-International Armed Conflicts (Protocol II) - signed
Protocol Additional to the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949, and Relating to the Protection of Victims of Non-International Armed Conflicts (Protocol II) - ratified
Arms Trade Treaty - signed
Arms Trade Treaty - ratified
Comment

N/A 

Methodology100% is received by a state that has signed and ratified all International Human Rights Treaties. Ratification of a treaty provides a state with a full point; a signature (without ratification) provides a state with half of a point.
11 - 99-100%;
10 - 90%;
9 - 81%;
8 - 72%;
7 - 63%;
6 - 54%;
5 - 45%;
4 - 36%;
3 - 27%;
2 - 18%;
1 - 9%;
0 - 0%
Resources

1.     Universal Declaration of Human Rights: "The Yearbook of the United Nations, 1948-1949: Part I, Section V.: Social, Humanitarian and Cultural Questions," pp. 529-530, The United Nations Department of Public Information, 1950. Accessed 30 May 2019. 

2.     International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights: 1976; International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights: 1976; Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women: 1981; Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women: 2000: "Status of Ratification: Interactive Dashboard," United Nations Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner, 2014. Accessed 30 May 2019. 

3.     "Convention on Consent to Marriage, Minimum Age for Marriage and Registration of Marriages," The United Nations Treaty Collection, 2019. Accessed 30 May 2019. 

4.     "Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime," The United Nations Treaty Collection, 2019. Accessed 30 May 2019. 

5.     "Convention for the Suppression of the Traffic in Persons and of the Exploitation of the Prostitution of Others," The United Nations Treaty Collection, 2019. Accessed 30 May 2019. 

6.     "Geneva Convention relative to the protection of civilian persons in time of war," The United Nations, 2019. Accessed 30 May 2019. 

7.     Additional Protocol II: "Protocol Additional to the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949, and relating to the Protection of Victims of Non-International Armed Conflicts (Protocol II), 8 June 1977," International Committee of the Red Cross, 2019. Accessed 30 May 2019. 

8.     Arms Trade Treaty: "Arms Trade Treaty," United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs, 2019. Accessed 30 May 2019.

52.6%
Peacekeeping Operations

5.2%
Contribution of Troops, Police and Military Experts

CriteriaThere should be equal participation of women and men in peacekeeping.
Analysis/Comments
AnalysisChina provided 65 women out of 2519 peacekeepers in 2018.
Comment

Contingent Troops: 2355 men, 63 women, 2418 total. 

Experts on Mission: 30 men,  2 women, 32 total. 

Individual Police: 18 men, 0 women, 18 total.

Staff Officer: 51 men, 0 women, 51 total. 

Total, peacekeepers provided: 2519 (65 women, 2454 men).

MethodologyConsidering that there should be equal participation of men and women in peacekeeping, a state that ensures 50% of its personnel are females receives 100%. Otherwise, a state earns a score that depends on the percentage of female personnel contributed by a state on the basis of the expected ratio.
Data is provided by the United Nations (Department of Peacekeeping Operations).
Resources

1.     "Contributors to UN Peacekeeping Operations by Country and Post," United Nations Peacekeeping, 2019. Accessed May 28, 2019. 

2.     "Summary of Contributions to Peacekeeping by Mission, Country and Post," United Nations Peacekeeping, 2019. Accessed May 28, 2019. 

100.0%
Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (SEA) Allegedly Committed by Peacekeepers

CriteriaThere should be a "zero tolerance" policy with respect to sexual exploitation and abuse.
Note*: Information on SEA is gathered based on publicly available information. Official statistics are available starting from 2015.
Analysis/Comments
Analysis

Chinese peacekeepers committed 0 of 54 alleged sexual abuse and exploitation incidents. 

Comment

N/A 

MethodologyIn line with the UN "zero tolerance" policy, at least one allegation of sexual abuse provides a state with 0%.
states that have not been involved in the SEA allegations receives 100%.
Resources

1.     "Conduct in UN Field Missions: Sexual Exploitation and Abuse: Allegations," The United Nations, 2018. Accessed 28 May 2019. [To obtain total # of allegations.]

2.     "Conduct in UN Field Missions: Sexual Exploitation and Abuse: Alleged Perpetrators," The United Nations, 2018. Access 28 May 2019. [To obtain total # of perpetrators.]

National Actions

16.3%
Prevention

45.0%
Partnership Between Womens Civil Society Organisations and the Government

CriteriaThere should be a funded and governmentally-supported women's civil society landscape.
Analysis/Comments
Analysis

The People's Republic of China receives 45% because: the Chinese government's engagement with and funding of women's civil society is extremely limited and to its own benefit. Where it deems civil society action to be dangerous (or embarrassing for the state and thus 'destabilising'), censorship, arrests, detention and other forms of government coercion are routinely employed. 

Comment

Discussions surrounding the extent of the Chinese government's "partnerships" with civil society - particularly women's civil society - must be founded on an understanding of the (fairly recent) history of China's civil society sector.  Though there is a rich history of Chinese lineage organizations or benevolent societies (stemming from Confucian ideology), the concept of "charity" - that of giving to strangers without expectation of reciprocation - is a Western import (introduced by Western missionaries in the nineteenth century) for which the Chinese had to invent a new term. Between 1949  and the early 1990s, "charity" was so successfully suppressed due to its Western origin that the term fell out of use.

When the concept of "charity" re-emerged in the 1990s, People’s Daily (the mouthpiece for the Chinese government) emphasized the need for it's ‘rehabilitation’ for Chinese society. (As described by Dr. Carolyn Hsu, "in Chinese Communist parlance, ‘rehabilitation’ refers to the transformation from politically condemned to politically acceptable," as in, for example, that of "Bourgeois enemies" who were "'rehabilitated’ into communist comrades before they could return to society.") Since the 1990s, civil society in China has been under the firm grasp of the Chinese government: the government restricts and contains the civil society, reaping the many benefits (among them the alleviation of social problems, channeling of civilian concerns, and influx of international funding) whilst limiting their freedoms to conduct activities considered "dangerous" or destabilizing," and enforcing these limitations through arrests, censorship, and evictions. As Dr. Hsu explains, the government plays "a long-term strategic game where, ideally, it exploits NGOs to help it meet its goals." Analysis of the state-civil society relationship is therefore less a matter of analysing state partnerships than of analysing of state control.

There are several steps that the Chinese government can take to strengthen its partnerships with women civil society organizations. For example, China has emphasized the involvement of and its "consultation with" women and NGOs surrounding the "Belt and Road Initiative." However, while the Chinese government gains positive publicity from these statements, the groups with which it consults are rendered invisible. The Chinese government should increase the visibility of and protections surrounding freedoms of expression and assembly for the women civil society organizations with which it consults and render more transparent the "consultation" process (ie: to what extent, and on what issues, do women consult?).

MethodologyWhen there is both financial support from the government and active collabouration between the government and civil society, a state receives from 80% to 100% depending on circumstances (i.e.: positive/negative assessment; decrease/increase in the number of projects, etc.);

When there is either only financial support from the government or only active collabouration between the government and civil society, a state receives from 60% to 79% depending on circumstances (i.e.: positive/negative assessment; decrease/increase in the number of projects, etc.);

When there is neither financial support from the government nor active collabouration between the government and civil society and where there are no restrictions applied on womens organisation, a state receives from 40% to 59% depending on circumstances (i.e.: kinds of services provided by civil society, etc.);

When there is neither both financial support from the government nor active collabouration between the government and civil society and when government provides services for women, a state receives from 20% to 39% depending on circumstances (i.e.: positive/negative assessment; decrease/increase in the number of projects, etc.);

When there is neither financial support from the government nor active collabouration between the government and civil society and when there are several restrictions on civil society, a state receives from 0% to 19% depending on circumstances (i.e.: positive/negative assessment; decrease/increase in the number of projects, etc.).
Resources
  1. Civic Freedom Monitor: China,” The International Center for Non-profit Law, 2019. Accessed June 24, 2019.
  2. "Freedom in the World Report 2019: China," Freedom House, 2019. Accessed June 24, 2019. 
  3. "China’s #MeToo Activists Have Transformed a Generation," Foreign Policy, 2019. Accessed June 24, 2019.
  4. "China's Feminist Movement Braves a Crackdown on #MeToo," The Verge, 2019. Accessed June 24, 2019.
  5. "Statement by Ambassador Wu Haitao at the General Discussion of the 63rd Session of the Commission on the Status of Women," The Permanent Mission of the People's Republic of China to the United Nations, 2019. Accessed June 26, 2019.

20.0%
Special Gender-Specific Training of Security and Law Enforcement Personnel

CriteriaSpecial gender-specific training for law enforcement and security sector should exist.
Analysis/Comments
AnalysisChina implemented the following training standards in 2018:
Assessment of gender-sensitive training is present
Overall training objective is gender sensitive
Gender parity among trainers and trainees
Women's organisations or gender-related societal leaders are engaged to provide contextual perspective on gender within the security sector
Follow-up communication and gender-related knowledge dissemination methods are established
Comment

There is limited data available on gender-specific training of security and law-enforcement personnel. However, research indicates that gender-sensitive trainings and objectives are not in place in China. 

MethodologyThe criteria is determined in line with the UN Women guidelines (developed in partnership with the Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces (DCAF) and the European Union).
5 - 100%
4 - 80%
3 - 60%
2 - 40%
1 - 20%
0 - 0%
Resources
  1. 2018 Annual Report”, Congressional-Executive Commission on China, 2018. Accessed June 25, 2019. [The reporting year for this report is September 2017 - September 2018.]
  2. "Basic Positions: Gender Equality and Women's Development in China," Permanent Mission of the People's Republic of China to the United Nations Office at Geneva and other International Organizations in Switzerland, 2004. Accessed June 25, 2019.
  3. "Empowering Female Military Officers at the UN," 2018. Accessed November 19, 2019.

0.0%
National Action Plan on the Implementation of UNSC Resolution 1325 bases on WPS Themes

CriteriaA state has implemented a 1325 National Action Plan. All WILPF/PeaceWomen themes should be covered.
Analysis/Comments
AnalysisThe UNSCR 1325 National Action Plan has not been developed by China until 2018.
Comment

As of 2018, China had not yet drafted a 1325 National Action Plan nor had it expressed its intentions to do so. 

MethodologyThe grade is determined on the basis of a number of WILPF/PeaceWomen themes that are emphasized in a 1325 National Action Plan (NAP). A NAP that emphasizes all WILPF/PeaceWomen themes receives 100%.
Resources

1. "Country/Regional Profile: China," PeaceWomen, 2019. Accessed June 26, 2019. 

0.0%
Balance between the 1325 National Action Plan (NAP) Budget and Military Expenditure.

CriteriaThe 1325 National Action Plan budget should increase overtime while military expenditure should decrease overtime.
Analysis/Comments
Analysis

In 2018, China failed to draft and publish a National Action Plan on the Implementation of Resolution 1325. China therefore receives an automatic 0%. 

It is worth noting that, in 2018, China increased its military expenditure by 5% to approximately $250 billion (14% of global military expenditure). This represents the 24th consecutive year of increase in Chinese military expenditure. It it similarly of note that, in China, increases in military expenditure correspond to general economic growth.  (China has allocated 1.9 % of its GDP to the military every year since 2013.)

As of 2018, China is the second-largest military spender in the world (behind the United States).

Comment

The Chinese government has never prepared, drafted, or signalled its intention to prepare and draft a National Action Plan on the Implementation of 1325. 

In 2017, China's military expenditure was estimated at around $228 billion. 

MethodologyA grade varies depending on circumstances (i.e.: positive/negative consistency in spendings, ratio between the NAP budget and military expenditure, etc.):

NAP Budget increases; Military Expenditure decreases (90-100%)
NAP Budget increases; Military Expenditure does not change (79-89%)
NAP Budget does not change; Military Expenditure decreases (68-78%)
NAP Budget does not change; Military Expenditure does not change (57-67%)
NAP Budget decreases; Military Expenditure decreases (46-56%)
NAP Budget increases; Military Expenditure increases (35-45%)
NAP Budget decreases; Military Expenditure does not change (24-34%)
NAP Budget does not change; Military Expenditure increases (13-23%)
NAP Budget decreases; Military Expenditure increases (1-12%)
No NAP/No NAP Budget (0%)
Resources

1.     "SIPRI Military Expenditure Database," Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, 2019. Accessed June 26, 2019. 

2.     "World military expenditure grows to $1.8 trillion in 2018," Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, 2019. Accessed June 26, 2019. 

3.     "Trends in World Military Expenditure, 2018," Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, 2018. Accessed June 26, 2019. 

4.     "Country/Regional Profile: China," PeaceWomen, 2019. Accessed June 26, 2019.

46.4%
Participation

49.8%
Percentage of Women's Participation in Parliament

CriteriaThere should be equal participation of women and men in Parliament.
Analysis/Comments
Analysis

Women made up 24.9% of the National Legislature in China in 2018. As China fell short of equal (50%-50%) participation of women and men, China receives a score of 50%. 

Comment

2018: 24.9%

2017: 24.2% 

This represents a slight increase. 

MethodologyConsidering that there should be equal participation of men and women in Parliament, a state that ensures 50% of its parliamentarians are females receives 100%. Otherwise, a state earns a grade that depends on the percentage of female parliamentarians employed by a state on the basis of the expected ratio.
Resources

1. “Women in National Parliaments,” Inter Parliamentary Union. Accessed May 20 2019. 

20.0%
Percentage of Women's Participation in Ministerial Positions

CriteriaThere should be equal participation of women and men in ministerial positions.
Analysis/Comments
Analysis

10% of ministerial positions were held by women in China in 2018. As China fell short of equal (50%-50%) participation of women and men, China receives a score of 20%. 

Comment

N/A. 

MethodologyConsidering that there should be equal participation of men and women in the ministerial positions, a state that ensures 50% of its ministers are females receives 100%. Otherwise, a state earns a grade that depends on the percentage of female ministers employed by a state on the basis of the expected ratio.
Resources

1. "The Global Gender Gap Report: 2018," The World Economic Forum [China, p. 63], 2018. Accessed May 29 2019.

n/a
Percentage of Women's Participation in Law Enforcement

CriteriaThere should be equal participation of women and men in law enforcement
Analysis/Comments
AnalysisInformation is currently not available.
Comment

N/A. 

MethodologyConsidering that there should be equal participation of men and women in law enforcement, a state that ensures 50% of its law enforcement agents are females receives 100%. Otherwise, a state earns a grade that depends on the percentage of female law enforcement agents employed by a state on the basis of the expected ratio.
Resources
  1. "Chinese city wardens wanted: must be young, female and pretty," The Guardian, 2010. Accessed June 26, 2019.
  2. "Women in the army: female fighters in the world’s seven biggest armies," Army Technology, 2018. Accessed June 26, 2019.
  3. "Hong Kong Customs blazes trail for women in law enforcement with first female officer tipped for top role," South China Morning Post, 2018. Accessed June 26, 2019.

n/a
Percentage of Women's Participation in the Judiciary

CriteriaThere should be equal participation of women and men in the judiciary.
Analysis/Comments
AnalysisInformation is currently not available.
Comment

It is of note that, as of 2010, there were approximately 45,000 women judges (25% of all judges) in China. By 2013, according to the National Bureau of Statistics of China, the number of women judges increased to approximately 57,200 (28.8 % of all judges). In 2017, two out of the top seventeen leaders (11.7%) of the Supreme People's Court were women.  

China should take the necessary steps to ensure the public availability and accessibility of gender-disaggregated data on its judiciary. 

MethodologyConsidering that there should be equal participation of men and women in the judiciary, a state that ensures 50% of its judges are females receives 100%. Otherwise, a state earns a grade that depends on the percentage of female judges employed by a state on the basis of the expected ratio.
Resources
  1. Women Judges in Post-Mao China – How much do we know?” China Policy Institute, 2017. Accessed June 26, 2019.
  2. "The Elastic Ceiling: Gender and Professional Career in Chinese Courts," The Law and Society Journal (Chunyan Zheng, Jiahui Ai, Sida Liu), 2017. Accessed June 26, 2019.
  3. "China Statistical Yearbook: 2018," The National Bureau of Statistics (The People's Republic of China), 2019. Accessed June 26, 2019.

68.8%
Percentage of Women's Participation in the Labour Force

CriteriaWomen should have equal access to employment opportunities.
Analysis/Comments
Analysis

68.8% of women participate in the labor force, compared to 82.8% of men. 

Comment

N/A. 

MethodologyData collected from the Gender Gap Index (GGI) on the basis of its methodology.
Resources

"The Global Gender Gap Report: 2018," The World Economic Forum [China, p. 63], 2018. Accessed May 29 2019.

47.1%
Access to Education

CriteriaThere should be equal access to all levels of education.
Analysis/Comments
Analysis

Enrolment in primary education: no data available. 

Enrolment in secondary education: 47.1% for girls (lower than boys at 52.9%)

Enrolment in tertiary education: 56.2% for women (higher than men at 46.4%)

Comment

N/A

MethodologyData collected from the Gender Gap Index (GGI) and UNESCO, developed on the basis of their respective methodologies.
Resources

1. "The Global Gender Gap Report: 2018," The World Economic Forum [China, p. 63], 2018. Accessed May 29 2019.

56.0%
Protection

66.7%
Presence of Gendered Perspective in Legal Framework

CriteriaGender should be mainstreamed throughout legal framework in accordance with the international law.
Analysis/Comments
Analysis Legal framework in China includes the following gender-sensitive laws and constitutional provisions in 2018:
Women and men are guaranteed the rights to vote, to hold public office, and to exercise public functions
Gender perspective incorporated into the constitution
Women and men are guaranteed the right to non-discrimination in education, employment and economic, and social activities
Women and men are guaranteed full equality in civil and business matters
Women and men are guaranteed equal rights and obligations with regard to choice of spouse, parenthood, personal rights, and command over property
Women and men are guaranteed reproductive rights
Women and men are guaranteed equal pay for equal work
Women and men are guaranteed the right to live lives free from violence
Gender sensitive laws and constitutional previsions
Comment

Chinese women won suffrage rights in 1947 with the implementation of the Constitution of the Republic of China, and China's Constitution guarantees women “equal rights with men in all spheres of life."

The Revised Law of the People’s Republic on the Protection of the Rights and Interests of Women remains a particularly significant indicator of China’s perspective on gender.

Though women are technically guaranteed the right to equal pay for equal work, in practice women earn a fifth less than men for the same work (and the gap is increasing).

While women and men are guaranteed equal property rights under national law, legal advocates say that enforcement mechanisms for guaranteeing women’s land rights are lacking. In practice, women in China are routinely denied their rights due to a combination of discriminatory policy implementation and adherence to patriarchal cultural values. Rural women in particular are affected by these practices. In 2018, many were deprived of land rights due to village-level policies and customs that deny women rights to collectively owned land if they marry outside of the village, divorce, become widowed, or remain unmarried above a certain age. Women's inequal rights to command over property were also apparent within the household: according to a sample survey conducted by the state-run Research Center for Rural Economy, 80.2% of rural women were not registered on residential property certificates.

China has a long history with "family planning." In 2018, for its third year, the Chinese Communist Party and government authorities implemented the ‘‘universal two-child policy’’ that allows all married couples to have two children (an increase from it's previous "one-child policy"). Forced abortions continue to occur. The government increased the birth limit due to demographic concerns of a declining birth rate, an aging population, and a shrinking workforce (rather than rights-related concerns).

Women and men do not have equal rights with regard to their choice of spouse, and LGBTQI women and men are not guaranteed protections under the law.

After years of advocacy, China recently passed its first anti-domestic violence law. The Chinese government’s implementation of this law, however, remained weak in 2018.

Methodology8 - 100%
7 - 87.5%
6 - 75%
5 - 62.5%
4 - 50%
3 - 37.5%
2 - 25%
1 - 12.5%
0 - 0%

Necessary legal framework is determined in accordance with the principles of the core human rights treaties (i.e.: the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), the International Covenant on Civil and political Rights (ICCPR), the International Covenant on Economic Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR)).
Resources
  1. "Annual Report 2018,"  Congressional-Executive Commission on China, 2019. Accessed June 26, 2019.
  2. "Gender Equality and Women’s Development in China," The State Council, 2015. Accessed June 26, 2019.  
  3. "Does the constitution take at least one approach to gender equality?," World Policy Center, 2019. Accessed June 26, 2019.
  4. "Post 1995 Major Events on Gender Equality and Women’s Rights in China," Columbia University, 2016. Accessed June 26, 2019. 
  5. "Global Gender Equality Constitutional Database: China," UN Women, 2016. Accessed August 12, 2019. 

57.1%
Access to Justice

CriteriaWomen's unrestricted access to justice exists.
Analysis/Comments
Analysis The following protections are guaranteed by China in 2018:
Equal access to formal legal dispute systems and the right to legal representation
Non-discrimination law
Existence of courts and judicial bodies
Financial affordability of access to legal proceedings and/or legal aid
Free access to an interpreter during legal proceedings
Victim protection
Existence of gender units within justice institutions
Comment

Equal access to formal legal dispute systems and the right to legal representation. The Chinese constitution guarantees that the "accused has the right to defense." To ensure a person’s right to defense, China’s Criminal Procedure Law contains a number of essential fair trial guarantees, including the right to pre-trial access to counsel. However, though China takes efforts to ensure equal access and continues to develop its justice system, access issues remain. Geographic inaccessibility remains particularly problematic: though technically available in both urban and rural areas, access tends to be better in urban and eastern coastal areas (where more lawyers/firms are located) than in Western and inland areas.

Non-discrimination law. Though frameworks exist to prevent discrimination against women (ex: the Protection of Women's Rights and Interests Law of the People's Republic of China), the framework is not strong enough (both in its interpretation/definition of discrimination and application) to prevent all women from discrimination.  Crucially, LBGTQI women remain largely unprotected before the law. Employer discrimination against women remains problematic as in, for example, the barring of women from performing certain jobs (in some cases depending on whether they are menstruating, pregnant, or breastfeeding) despite laws in place. Enforcement of these laws is exceedingly rare and negligible.   

Existence of courts and judicial bodies. The legal and justice systems of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) are defined by the government as a “socialist legal system" established in accordance with the Constitution of the People’s Republic of China (the highest law within China).  There are four levels of the court system in China: the local, intermediate, higher and supreme people's courts, in addition to special courts (including military, maritime, railway and forestry courts).

Financial affordability of access to legal proceedings and/or legal aid. State-funded legal aid is available at national, regional and local levels. Legal aid is provided upon request from the person who wants legal aid, or from the police, the prosecutor, or the institution that oversees appointment of legal aid providers. The court presiding over a case must also inquire and assess eligibility during the first appearance of the parties.

Free access to an interpreter during legal proceedings. Court support services, such as interpretation and translation of documents, are provided only in some proceedings.

Victim protection. Provisions for protecting witnesses have been in place for some time in China, though they’ve lacked clear guidelines for implementation. The revision of the criminal law in 2012 provided for the safeguarding a witness’ personal information, altering their voice and not showing their face in the courtroom, and preventing certain people from being in close proximity to them. As of 2018 -- despite notorious shortcomings of these laws (especially surrounding evidentiary requirements) which frequently result in rejection of cases and social norms which often prevent initial reporting-- 3,718 protective orders were issued to protect survivors of domestic violence. However, protective orders have little immediate impact on survivor's immediate safety needs without enforcement.

Judicial data shows that between 1-10% of all witnesses actually show up for trial, with most opting to submit written testimony rather than face the possibility of intimidation or abuse.

Existence of gender units within justice institutions. As of 2018, gender units do not exist within justice institutions.

MethodologyThe necessary protections represent the CEDAW standard on women's access to justice.
7 - 100%
6 - 85%
5 - 70%
4 - 55%
3 - 40%
2 - 25%
1 - 10%
0 - 0%"
Resources
  1. Progress made by the Chinese Government in Implementation of the “Beijing Declaration” and Program of Action” as well as the “Outcome Document” of the United Nations General Assembly at its Twenty-Third Special Session," United Nations, 2010 [Fifteen Year Review and Appraisal]. Accessed June 27, 2019.
  2. "Legal Research Guide: China," Law Library of Congress, 2018. Accessed June 27, 2019.
  3. "Global Study on Legal Aid: Country Profiles," United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, 2016. Accessed June 27, 2019.
  4. "Protection Orders Offer Shield Against Domestic Violence," The China Information Center, 2017. Accessed June 27, 2019.
  5. "Zhejiang Court Issues First Written Witness Protection Order," The Sixth Tone, 2017. Accessed June 27, 2019.

0.0%
Protections Against Human Trafficking

CriteriaA state should be in compliance with minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking in persons.
Analysis/Comments
AnalysisChina in 2018 is in:
Complete compliance with the minimum standards
Partial compliance with the minimum standards
Non-compliance with the minimum standards
Comment

The Government of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) does not meet the minimum standards* for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so.

*Researcher’s note on applied standards: Our minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking in persons reflect those outlined in the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons Especially Women and Children, and the United States' Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPRA), which aims to improve implementation of and fill national policy gaps related to the elimination of human trafficking. The United States' State Department's annual Trafficking in Persons reports, the primary source employed in our evaluation, assess the efforts undertaken by nation states surrounding the central aims of the TVPRA: protection, prevention and prosecution. For more detailed discussions concerning these standards, check out our resources below.

MethodologyAdherence is measured in accordance with the “Palermo Protocols” and grading system developed by the US state Department’s annual report on trafficking in persons.
Full compliance: 100%
Partial Compliance: 50%
Non-Compliance: 0%

Resources
  1. "2019 Trafficking in Persons Report," The United States Department of State, 2019*. Accessed June 27, 2019. [Full report]
  2. "2019 Trafficking in Persons Report: China," The United States Department of State, 2019*. Accessed June 27, 2019. [China only]
  3. "Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons Especially Women and Children, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime," United Nations, 2000. Accessed June 4, 2019.
  4. "Summary of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA) and Reauthorizations FY 2017," Alliance to End Slavery and Trafficking (ATEST), 2017. Accessed June 4, 2019.

*Researcher's Note: The 2019 Trafficking in Persons Report covers government efforts to combat human trafficking undertaken from April 1, 2018 through March 31, 2019. Reports are typically released in June.

100.0%
Protections Against Sexual Violence.

CriteriaA state should be in compliance with minimum standards for the elimination of sexual violence.
Analysis/Comments
AnalysisChina in 2018 has the following services in place:
Existence of a law against sexual violence
Governmental efforts to eliminate sexual violence nationally
Existence of a national crisis hotline
Existence of women's shelters
Existence of women's rape crisis centres
Comment

China implemented its first domestic violence law in 2016, and has increased efforts to bring awareness to the issue. It is notable though, that these efforts have coincided with a clamp-down on civil society.

The Ministry of Justice operates "148" hotline for legal services and established a legal aid station for battered women. The All-China Women's Federation (ACWF) operates a national legal assistance center, coupled with women's rights hotline "12338" and the domestic violence hotline "16838198." The CEASE Crisis Centre operates a 24-hour hotline for sexual violence "18281."

There exists a single sexual violence crisis centre in Hong Kong, operated by RainLily, and one on the mainland, the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals CEASE Crisis Centre. As of 2015, The Ministry of Civil Affairs reported the establishment of domestic violence shelters in around 100 cities in nearly 20 provincial-level jurisdictions. However, due to the limited availability of data, we have -- as noted by Equality Beijing -- "only... [a] few individual reports [concerning the establishment of women's shelters] rather than a comprehensive picture."

The Chinese government has demonstrated willingness to cooperate on the issue of domestic violence. However, in recent years, the extent of the Chinese government's actual engagement with civil society has decreased while the limitations and constraints that are associated with government partnerships have grown.

There are several areas to which the Chinese Government could turn its attention to strengthen national law enforcement's capacity for gender-sensitive crime prevention and response. For example, to combat law enforcement official's persistent hesitation to interfere in cases of domestic violence, women's advocacy groups successfully pushed for the introduction of protection orders (a touchstone policy across the globe for addressing domestic violence) in 2008. (It is of note that Chinese women’s rights lawyers, through their concerted efforts, sparked the pilot project on protection orders in a limited number of courts across China.) Later, in 2016, China passed the landmark Anti-Domestic Violence Law.  Coupled with protection orders, the Chinese government has a framework through and by which it can respond to domestic violence complaints. There is a clear need for action. As of 2018 -- despite notorious shortcomings of these laws (especially surrounding evidentiary requirements) which frequently result in rejection of cases and social norms which often prevent initial reporting-- 3,718 protective orders were issued to protect survivors of domestic violence. However, protective orders have little immediate impact on survivor's immediate safety needs without enforcement. Creating gender-sensitive training objectives bolstered by gender sensitivity trainings, with the input of women's civil society (who have made clear both their expertise and willingness to work with the government despite the limitations/constraints it enforces), surrounding this issue would be a solid step in the right direction.

MethodologyThe standard is derived from the CEDAW and Istanbul Convention.
5 - 100%
4 - 80%
3 - 60%
2 - 40%
1 - 20%
0 - 0%
Resources
  1. "Building a Nonviolent World for Women," The All-China Women's Federation, 2015. Accessed June 27, 2019.
  2. "Submissions on Situation of Protection Orders & Shelters In China," Equality (Beijing), 2017[Submission to the United Nations Office of The High Commissioner on Human Rights' Special Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes and consequences]. Accessed June 27, 2019.
  3. "CEASE Crisis Centre - Multi-purpose Crisis Intervention and Support Centre," Tung Wah Group of Hospitals Community Services, 2019. Accessed July 1, 2019.
  4. "Basic Positions: Gender Equality and Women's Development in China," Permanent Mission of the People's Republic of China to the United Nations Office at Geneva and other International Organizations in Switzerland, 2004. Accessed June 25, 2019.
  5. "Opportunities and Challenges for Gender-based Legal Reform in China," University of Pennsylvania Law School Penn Law: Legal Scholarship Repository (de Silva de Alwis, Rangita), 2010. Accessed June 25, 2019.  

46.8%
Recovery Support

n/a
Implementation of Dedicated Programmes Serving the Needs of Veterans

CriteriaDedicated programmes for female veterans should be in place.
Analysis/Comments
AnalysisInformation is currently not available.
Comment

 

In 2018, China established a central body for veterans affairs (the Ministry of Veteran's Affairs). This was largely viewed as responsive to the long-held grievances of veterans, particularly surrounding inadequate pensions and benefits. 

In 2018, China's 123 centrally-administered state-owned enterprises have mobilised and offered around 15,000 job positions to veterans. China's Ministry of Veterans Affairs also granted preferential policies to ex-servicemen who set up businesses, including financial and tax benefits.

Regional veterans offices exist, but it is unknown whether they provide specific services and resources for women veterans. Officially, all veterans receive the same benefits from the State, including women veterans. However, very little additional information exists.

MethodologyThe standard is determined in line with the international concept of the responsibility to protect. A state receives a full point only when it is in full compliance with the determined obligation.
5 - 100%
4 - 80%
3 - 60%
2 - 40%
1 - 20%
0 - 0%

Resources

  1. "China introduces more supportive measures for veterans," the China Daily, 2019. Accessed June 27, 2019. 

  2. "Frequent protests by veterans alarm China's authorities," The Economist, 2018. Accessed June 27, 2019. 

  3. "Hundreds of Chinese military veterans stage fresh protests over pensions," South China Morning Post, 2018. Accessed June 27, 2019.

83.3%
Implementation of Dedicated Programmes to Support Survivors of Sexual Violence

CriteriaDedicated programmes for survivors of sexual violence should be in place.
Analysis/Comments
AnalysisChina in 2018 provides the following services:
National crisis hotline
Women's shelters
Women's rape crisis centres
Counseling services
National sex-offender list or website
Support groups for victims/survivors
Comment

National Crisis Hotline. The Chinese Ministry of Justice operates "148" hotline for legal services for domestic violence, and the All-China Women's Federation (ACWF) operates a women's rights hotline "12338" as well as a domestic violence hotline "16838198." The CEASE Crisis Centre operates a 24-hour hotline for sexual violence "18281."

Women's shelters and Women's Rape Crisis Centres. As of 2015, The Ministry of Civil Affairs reported the establishment of domestic violence shelters in around 100 cities in nearly 20 provincial-level jurisdictions. However, due to the limited availability of data, we have -- as noted by Equality Beijing -- "only... [a] few individual reports [concerning the establishment of women's shelters] rather than a comprehensive picture." Our research suggested that there exists a single sexual violence crisis centre in Hong Kong, operated by RainLily, and one on the mainland, the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals CEASE Crisis Centre, that provide rape crisis services. 

Counseling services and support groups. The Family Planning Association of Hong Kong, Rain Lily, CEASE Crisis Centre, and the All-China Women's Federation are among a number of CSOs that provide counseling services and support groups for survivors of sexual violence.

National sex-offender list or website. As of 2018, there was no centralized, national sex-offender list or website in China. There are, however, growing calls to establish a national child sex offender registry (with at least two provinces in China experimenting with adopting pilot programs). 

MethodologyThe standard is determined in line with the CEDAW, Istanbul Convention and Beijing Platform for Action. A state receives a full point only when it is in full compliance with the determined obligation.
6 - 100%
5 - 83%
4 - 66%
3 - 49%
2 - 32%
1 - 15%
0 - 0%.
Resources
  1. "Building a Nonviolent World for Women," The All-China Women's Federation, 2015. Accessed June 27, 2019.
  2. "Submissions on Situation of Protection Orders & Shelters In China," Equality (Beijing), 2017 [Submission to the United Nations Office of The High Commissioner on Human Rights' Special Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes and consequences]. Accessed June 27, 2019.
  3. "Sexual Violence Against Women and Children in China," The University of Hong Kong (Sexual Violence Research Initiative), 2007. Accessed July 1, 2019.

57.1%
Implementation of Dedicated Programmes to Support Survivors of Human Trafficking

CriteriaDedicated programmes for urvivors of human trafficking should be in place.
Analysis/Comments
AnalysisChina in 2018 provides the following services:
Human trafficking hotline
Human trafficking shelter
Basic necessities (food, clothing, housing, etc.)
Health services
Legal services
Job training programmes
Educational services
Comment

In 2018, the government's commitment to implementing dedicated programmes for survivors of trafficking decreased. (2018 was also characterized by a decreased in access to relevant data and reporting.)

The government reported maintaining at least 10 shelters specifically dedicated to care for trafficking victims, as well as eight shelters for foreign trafficking victims and more than 2,300 multi-purpose shelters nationwide that could accommodate trafficking victims. Victims were entitled to shelter, medical care, counseling, social services, and—in some cases—rehabilitation services (available by way of the Ministry of Civil Affairs), the All-China Women's Federation, and other civil society organisations. Access to specialized care varied signficantly. The efficacy of the government’s previously reported victim assistance—including its eight border liaison offices with Burma, Vietnam, and Laos, victim funds, hotlines, and government-to-government agreements to assist victims—remained unclear. Foreign embassies in China reportedly provided shelter or other protective services to victims.

Despite the existence of procedures, new policies and an increase in training, law enforcement officials continued to arrest and detain foreign women on suspicion of prostitution crimes without screening them for indicators of sexual exploitation—sometimes for as long as four months—before deporting them for immigration violations.

Though victims are legally entitled to request criminal prosecution and claim financial restitution through civil lawsuits against their traffickers, we do not have access to the data that would allow us to determine whether this occured.  

MethodologyThe standard is determined in line with Palermo Protocol and Beijing Platform for Action. A state receives a full point only when it is in full compliance with the determined obligation.
7 - 100%
6 - 85%
5 - 70%
4 - 55%
3 - 40%
2 - 25%
1 - 10%
0 - 0%

Resources
  1. "2019 Trafficking in Persons Report," The United States Department of State, 2019*. Accessed June 27, 2019. [Full report]
  2. "2019 Trafficking in Persons Report: China," The United States Department of State, 2019*. Accessed June 27, 2019. [China only]
  3. "Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons Especially Women and Children, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime," United Nations, 2000. Accessed June 4, 2019.
  4. "Summary of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA) and Reauthorizations FY 2017," Alliance to End Slavery and Trafficking (ATEST), 2017. Accessed June 4, 2019.

*Researcher's Note: The 2019 Trafficking in Persons Report covers government efforts to combat human trafficking undertaken from April 1, 2018 through March 31, 2019. Reports are typically released in June.

0.0%
Implementation Dedicated Programmes to Support Refugees, Asylum Seekers, and Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs)

CriteriaDedicated programmes for refugees, asylum seekers, and IDPs should be in place.
Analysis/Comments
AnalysisChina in 2018 provides the following services:
State refugee/IDP strategy exists
Basic necessities (food, clothing, housing, etc.) are provided
Health services are available
Legal services are available
Job training programmes are available
Educational services are available
Community engagement/integration programmes are available
Comment

As of 2018, the legal landscape (that which is required for the implementation of dedicated programmes to support refugees, asylum seekers and IDPs) seemed improved (albeit lacking in consistent implementation). Combined with China's apparent growing interest in refugee issues, there are positive indicators suggesting China's willingness to increase its efforts surrounding refugee protection in the future. (It is of note though, that to a significant extent, the nature of this interest is in development.) 

Yet the fact remains that the Representative Office of United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in China continues to play an outsize role in service provision (whilst continuing to engage China in the global discourse on refugee protection).

In 2018, the total refugee population was 321,756, down from 322,439 in 2017. 

There are opportunities for China to make significant improvements. For example, China has aceded to the Refugee Convention and Protocol - a step in the right direction - but has incorporated few of its provisions into its domestic law. It has not established a national mechanism or consistent policy surrounding refugee status determination. As such, domestic Chinese law contains no provisions on who qualifies as a refugee, which organisation or government body is responsible for refugee status determination, or how an application for refugee status can be made. China should translate its emergent interest in refugee interests into (and call upon its nascent legal framework in) the establishment of a national body or domestic policy to clarify these concerns -- ideally, accompanied by or founded upon a national refugee/IDP strategy.

MethodologyThe standard is determined in line with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) recommendations. A state receives a full point only when it is in full compliance with the determined obligation.
7 - 100%
6 - 85%
5 - 70%
4 - 55%
3 - 40%
2 - 25%
1 - 10%
0 - 0%

Resources

  1. "China and the International Refugee Protection Regime: Past, Present, and Potentials," Refugee Survey Quarterly (Song, Lily), 2018. Accessed July 1, 2019. 

  2. "Refugee Law and Policy: China," The United States Library of Congress, 2016. Accessed July 1, 2019. 

  3. "Refugee population by country or territory of asylum," The World Bank, 2019. Accessed July 1, 2019.