| |
In
1954, the Constitution of the People's Republic of China (PRC)
was adopted at the First National People's Congress (NPC).
Article 85 stipulates: "All citizens of the People's
Republic of China are equal before the law." Article
86 stipulated: "All citizens of the People's Republic
of China who have reached the age of 18 have the right to
vote and stand for election, regardless of nationality, race,
sex, occupation, family background, religious belief, education,
property status, or length of residence... Women have an equal
right to vote and stand for election as men." Article
96 stipulates: "Women in the People's Republic of China
enjoy equal rights with men in all spheres of political, economic,
cultural and family life. Marriage, the family, and mother
and children are protected by the State."
The amendment
of the Constitution of the PRC was passed at the Fifth Plenary
Session of the NPC convened in December 1982. Article 48,
Chapter Two, stipulates: "Women in the People's Republic
of China enjoy equal rights with men in all spheres of political,
economic, cultural and social and family life. The State protects
the rights and interests of women, applies the principle of
equal pay for equal work for men and women alike and trains
and selects cadres from among women." Article 49 stipulates:
"Marriage, the family, and mother and children are protected
by the State. Both husband and wife have the duty to practice
family planning. Parents have the duty to rear and educate
their children, and children who have come of age have the
duty to support and assist their parents. Violation of the
freedom of marriage is prohibited. Maltreatment of old people,
women and children is prohibited."
|
|
