BEIJING — Facing international criticism over human rights abuses, China is preparing a national "action plan" on such issues as torture and freedom of speech, but critics Thursday were skeptical that the move would bring much change.
Beijing's announcement comes three months before the United Nations Human Rights Council is to review the status of rights programs in the communist nation.
China was also publicly embarrassed last month when a prestigious European human rights prize was awarded to Hu Jia, a dissident jailed for speaking out on AIDS issues and calling for environmental protections. Beijing had warned that the award would damage relations between China and the European Union.
In an article published in state-run news media, the State Council Information Office said this week that the plan would involve "expanding democracy, strengthening the rule of law, improving people's livelihood, protecting rights of women, children and ethnic minorities, and boosting public awareness of human rights."
Critics called the move a public relations ploy.
"Most international observers who follow human rights in China consider this mostly eyewash," said Jerome Cohen, a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations in New York. "It would be wonderful if the Chinese government would open up and discuss concrete cases. Human rights watchers want to talk about reality, not principle."
Others were more optimistic.
"Five years ago you couldn't even say the words 'human rights' in China, so the government should be commended for uttering the phrase at last," said Sara Davis, executive director of New York-based Asia Catalyst, which provides support to Chinese groups that promote human rights.
"What's really needed is legal reform and criminal procedure law. That would give their plan some real teeth," she said. "Also protections against police abuse. If those are included, this is truly something we should be celebrating."
China has recently faced domestic pressure from politically oriented bloggers and a growing middle class to guarantee more rights.
Some said they hoped that President-elect Barack Obama would apply more pressure on China than President Bush has in regard to treatment of citizens.
A Beijing salesman, who identified himself only as Yu for fear of government retribution, said he would applaud such a move.
