On 13 Nov. 2023, China’s Supreme People’s Procuratorate, the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, and the China Disabled Persons’ Federation jointly held a press conference, reporting on public interest litigations in constructing a barrier-free environment initiated by China’s procuratorates and releasing typical cases of procuratorial public interest litigations in constructing barrier-free environments.
From 2019 to September 2023, Chinese procuratorates handled 7,526 public interest litigation cases in constructing a barrier-free environment. Among them, there were 7,497 administrative public interest litigation cases and 29 civil public interest litigation cases. In addition, 919 cases were settled and concluded through pre-litigation negotiations, 5,574 pre-litigation prosecutorial suggestions were issued, and 73 lawsuits were initiated.
Chinese procuratorates aim to safeguard the rights and interests of specific groups, such as people with disabilities and the elderly, through these cases.
On 1 Sept. 2023, the “Barrier-Free Environment Creation Law of the People’s Republic of China” (中华人民共和国无障碍环境建设法, hereinafter the Law) officially came into effect, aiming to facilitate persons with disabilities and elderly persons in independently and safely traveling the roads, entering and exiting buildings, using their ancillary facilities, taking public transportation vehicles, acquiring, using, and exchanging information, and gaining access to public services, among others.
According to the provisions of the Law, the procuratorate may propose prosecutorial suggestions or initiate public interest litigation for actions that violate the Law and harm public interests.
Photo by Stefan Wagener on Unsplash
Contributors: CJO Staff Contributors Team
