Protect and Progress

China’s disability-related expenditure at all levels has increased year by year. Last year saw the completion of the National Ice Sports Arena for People With Impairments in light of the Beijing 2022 Paralympic Winter Games. The Games officially opened on March 4, marking not only a great event for the Olympic family, but also the advancement of China’s path for developing the cause of people with disabilities.

Protection of those differently abled in employment, social security, public facilities and education keeps improving in China. The nation is also further refining its laws and regulations ensuring the rights and interests of persons with disabilities; more than 20, including the Civil Code, have made provisions on their protection.

China has 85 million people with disabilities, who need more attention and help—from government and public alike. The possibility of people with disabilities relapsing into poverty is high; the total amount of public services for people with physical impairments does not suffice and their distribution remains uneven; their diverse needs, such as education, medical services and rehabilitation, are not adequately met; discrimination, too, still occurs; less developed and rural areas are not suitably fit to serve this segment of population.

According to the arrangements for the protection and development of people with disabilities during the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25) period issued in July 2021, basic systems providing multi-level social security will be in place by 2025 to ensure the livelihood of this social group continues to improve; by 2035, the differently abled will live a more affluent material and cultural life, and the gap between them and the average national level will have been remarkably narrowed.

To achieve these goals, the Chinese Government is revising regulations on the employment of those differently abled, aiming to help them live better and more fulfilled lives through their work. In addition, the country is accelerating the upgrading of the social security system, so that those who are completely or partially incapacitated and unable to obtain stable income through employment will be included in government aid under China’s social safety net program.