Commentary on the Newly Published White Paper Concerning the Rule of Law in China

On February 28, 2008, the State Council Information Office published a white paper entitled China＇s Efforts and Achievements in Promoting the Rule of Law. This document is the first white paper published by the government on China＇s rule of law. It contains eight chapters and six appendices to review China＇s achievements on the road to practicing the rule of law in a compre- hensive way, and to expound the official Chinese policy and position on this is- sue. With some essential points inside, the publication of this white paper is of great significance, especially this year, to China＇s rule of law, human rights prog- ress, and its communication and dialogue with the international community.     

Years of life lost from suicide in China, 1990-2000

Suicide is an important public health problem in China: It is the fifth leading cause of death in China, and suicide in China accounts for over 30% of the world's overall suicide deaths. The substantial burden due to suicide has not been well recognized. This study aims to provide an estimate of the socioeconomic burden of the suicide problem in China in terms of years of life lost (YLL) and to discuss its implications. Suicide rates and the related YLL by age, gender, and region (urban/rural) from 1990 to 2000 were estimated using the most recent data from the Ministry of Health of China. The suicide rate in rural China was three times higher than that in urban areas. Suicide completers in rural areas shared 90% of total YLL. Rural women aged 25-39 years contributed the largest share of YLL. Our results show that some population subgroups contributed a disproportionate share to the disease burden of suicide. National strategies for suicide prevention should include targeted programs in catering the need of these specified subgroups in China.     

National Human Rights Action Plan and Human Rights Education

On April 13, 2009, the Information Office of the State Council (IOSC) published the National Human Rights Action Plan of China (2009-2010), which caused a widespread repercussion in China and the world over and won     

人权保护视野下的证人隐名制度

在刑事诉讼程序中授予某些证人隐名,是国际法庭和西方国家普遍的做法。证人隐名是投入资源最少,往往也是最为有效的保护证人安全与隐私利益的举措,是建立证人出庭制度的重要一环。允许证人在作证时不披露身份,可能会影响被追诉人质证权的行使,损害被追诉人接受公正审判的权利。为此,国际社会与各国设立的证人隐名制度,通常都设计了较为详细的证据规则与程序保障机制,以实现被追诉人与证人之间的利益平衡。了解证人隐名制度的运行状况与其中蕴含的价值选择,有助于我国证人出庭制度乃至庭审制度的借鉴与改革。     

证据概念素说——兼论中国特色社会主义证据理论的国学文化基石

本文试以缘其华叶,探其根素,究其质实的方法,对证据的概念行以刻求真是的剖陈。其定义为:证据是讼事以物符或意融的形式,留存于时空内,并为听讼人藉以听断讼事的可识素因。概念,无论今古中西,在学问上,都是说话的前提。国学式的概念必定是中华法和中国特色社会主义证据理论的基本构件之一。     

财产权制度的存在基础

民族性、目的性和当代性是民法制度设计的根基,财产权观念不仅是一种单纯的法律确认,同时也是一种伦理升华和哲学判断。财产权制度的产生与流变既是人类理性思维的结果,而且也有其赖以存在的充分的哲学依据,财产权制度的设计和改革必须以效益观念为指导。作者认为伦理基础是财产权制度民族性的体现,哲学基础决定了财产权制度设计的目的,而经济基础则是财产权制度时代性的必然要求。通过对财产权制度存在基础的综合分析,力图在前人已取得的丰硕成果上,重新观察财产和财产权这样一个开放的权利体系,对其做出正本清源的概括和梳理,以期对我国民法典和物权法的制定提供一种带有基础性的研究基点和研究思路。     

论政府信息公开诉讼中的证明责任

政府信息公开诉讼与普通行政诉讼在证明责任上存在重要差别,现有的行政诉讼证明责任分配规则不足以完全解决其中的问题。其中,认定政府信息属于国家秘密的证明责任,依申请公开中关于申请条件的证明责任,信息不存在的证明责任,以数据电文形式提出申请的证明责任,都需要在现有证明规则的基础上进一步明确。     

中国古代书证的演进及司法实践

自从中国上古时期发明文字以来,就出现了最早的书证形式。我国先秦以前的书证非常简略,大多书写在木简、竹简、金石器物和布帛之上,非常不便。随着造纸技术的发明和纸张的广泛使用,书证适用于各种民事、刑事和行政诉讼领域。纸张的普及推动了中国古代书证制度的发展,同时也带来了容易伪造的弊端。为了防止伪造和变造书证,历代法典都设有相关的法律条文,对伪造书证的行为给予严惩。针对书证容易伪造和变造的特点,采取了许多预防性措施,如让双方当事人、保人、见证人在各类书证上签字画押,在公、私文书上加盖印章,以保障书证的真实性。书证制度的出现,使中国古代的审判制度从西周以后迅速摆脱了夏商以来野蛮落后的神明裁判方式,向着更加文明化的方向发展。中国古代书证制度的发达,对于减少诉讼成本、降低原被告双方的举证难度也具有重要的作用。书证制度的发展也推动了中国古代法律制度层面的建设,有助于提高民众的法律意识。     

Milestone in the Protection of Human Rights on the Part of the Accused ——From the Supreme People’s Court recovery of death sentence approval authority

The protection of human rights on the part of the accused is the core of modern human rights protection, known as the barometer of human rights condi-