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

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.