China Disabled Persons' Federation
The China Disabled Persons’ Federation, also known as the CDPF, is a national organization for individuals with disability in China established in Beijing, China in March 1988, aiming to represent and safeguard the rights and interests of disabled people. The predecessors of the CDPF are the China Association for the Blind and Deaf, established in 1960 and the China Welfare Fund for the Handicapped established in 1984. The three basic functions of the CDPF are to represent the interests of people with disabilities in China and help protect their legitimate rights, to provide them with comprehensive and effective services and to supervise affairs relating to people with disabilities commissioned by the Chinese government. The emblem of the CDPF looks like a plum flower which features prominently in Chinese art and culture. With its motto "humanity, probity, service and contribution" the CDPF has helped many disabled persons.
As of 2016, CDPF has estimated that there are 80 million people with disabilities in China, while only 30 million have registered with the government.
Origin and History
- In March, 1953, the Chinese Welfare Association for the Blind was established in Beijing. The purposes of the Association are: to assist the government in solving problems concerning the blind, to care for the blind and to work for the welfare of the blind. Xie Juezai Interior Minister of the Government Administration Council of the Central People's Government, served as chairman, Wu Yunfu and Huang Nai served as vice chairman, and Zhang Wenqiu served as Director-General.
- In February, 1956, the Chinese Welfare Association for the Deaf was established in Beijing. The purposes of the Association are: to contact the deaf and to work for the welfare of them. Wu Yunfu, general secretary of the Chinese people's Relief Association, served as chairman.
- On May 30, 1956, according to Premier Zhou Enlai's instructions, the Chinese Welfare Association for the Deaf and the Chinese Welfare Association for the Blind began to be directed by the Interior Ministry officially.
- On May 20, 1960, the Chinese Welfare Association for the Blind and the Chinese Welfare Association for the Deaf merged into the China Association for the Blind and Deaf.
- In August, 1978, Report on the return of the China Association for the Blind and Deaf's organization and working was approved by the center leadership after the instructions. Afterwards, Chinese blind deaf-mute Association immediately returned to work and to resume the publication of the blind Monthly.
- On March 15, 1984, the inaugural meeting of the China Welfare Fund for the Handicapped was held in Beijing.
- In July, 1986, The China Organizing Committee of the United Nations Decade of Disabled Persons was established in Beijing, and the first Organizing Committee meeting was held. The meeting was presided over by Cui Naifu. Deng Pufang delivered a work report, and the Vice Premier Qiao Shi delivered an important speech at the meeting. The responsibilities and work system of the Organizing Committee and its secretariat was formulated.
- On March 11 to 13, 1988, the First National Congress of the China Disabled Persons' Federation was held in Beijing.
- In December, 1990, The 17th meeting of the Seventh National People's Congress Standing Committee examined and adopted the People's Republic of China on Protection of Disabled Persons Act. The Act will come into force on May 15, 1991.
- On September 4, 1994, The sixth FESPIC Games for the Disabled opened in Beijing. Premier Li Peng announced the opening. Deng Pufang presided over the opening ceremony.
- On January 14, 2011, the China Disabled Persons Rehabilitation Association of the Fifth National People's Congress was inaugurated in Beijing.
- On May 15, 2011, the China Disabled Persons' Federation and Fujian Film Studio produced the first Special Olympics theme of the film "Special Love" as a tribute film premiere held at Great Hall of the People in Beijing.
- On September 15–16, 2011, co-sponsored by the China Disabled Persons' Federation and Handicap International, the nationwide community-based rehabilitation of international cooperation project workshop held in Beijing.
- On October 11, 2011, the opening ceremony of the Eighth Chinese National Games for the Disabled was held in Hangzhou.
- On December 6, 2011, the China Disabled Persons' Federation together with the World Health Organization and World Bank organized the World Disability Report and Community-based Rehabilitation Guide conference at Great Hall of the People in Beijing.
- On February 1, 2012, the China Disabled Persons' Federation held the recommendations and proposals symposium for 2012 National People's Congress and Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference. On February 21, China Disabled Persons' Federation and China National Radio held the "Cultural Assistive Action Plan" strategic cooperation agreement signing ceremony at the China Braille Library in Beijing.
- November 11, 2014, The First Lady of China, Peng Liyuan urged China and the UN to support people with disabilities. She also has called for more tolerant, sustainable and just environment for people with disabilities.
- September 28, 2015, The First Lady of China unveiled a stamp honoring the disabled that was designed and created by China Disabled Persons' Federation.
Functions and Duties
Functions
CDPF performs three functions:- Represent interests of people with disabilities in China and help protect their legitimate rights,
- Provide comprehensive and effective services to them,
- Commissioned by the Chinese government to supervise affairs relating to people with disabilities in China.
Promote the humanitarianism, Promote the human rights of people with disabilities, Promote the integration of people with disabilities in all aspects.
Duties
1. The CDPF propagates the Protection of Disabled Persons Law of the People's Republic of China; maintains the civil rights of persons with disabilities in the political, economic, cultural, and social equality and services for people with disabilities.2. The CDPF educates the persons with disabilities to comply with law and fulfill their obligations.
3. The CDPF is the bridge of the persons with disabilities and government. It mobilizes the society to understand, respect, care and help the persons with disabilities.
4. The CDPF develops and promotes the rehabilitation of the disabled, education, poverty, employment, human rights, culture, sports, social security and disability prevention work to improve the environment and conditions of persons with disabilities for encouraging them to participate in social life.
5. The CDPF participates in the research, development and implementation of the laws, regulations, policies, planning for the disabled and plays the role of an integrated, coordinated, advice, services, management and guidance of the work in these field.
6. The CDPF manages and provides People's Republic of China Disabled Persons Card for the Chinese disabled.
7. The CDPF the manages and guides all kinds of organizations for disabilities.
8. Being the UN ECOSOC special consultative, The CDPF carries out international exchanges and cooperation.
Presidents
Former presidents
- Deng Pufang was the president of the CDPF from 1988 to 2008. Born in 1944, Guangan, Sichuan Province, Deng is the son of Deng Xiaoping. He became disabled, because of the persecution during the Cultural Revolution. He is Executive President of Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, Chairman of China Foundation for People with Disabilities.
- Zhang Haidi was born in September 1955, Jinan, Shandong Province and became physically disabled at 5 years old. In November 2008, she was elected the President of the CDPF.
- was born in the Hebei Province of China in 1963, he has a PhD in Economics and is a postdoctoral fellow in management and engineering at Tsinghua University.
Organization
Emblem
- The main graphic of the emblem is a combination of three letters "CJR", which is the abbreviation of the "disabled persons" in Chinese Pinyin. It represents disabled persons and it is similar with the international emblem of disabled persons.
- The shape of the emblem is the flower of plum. It is a symbol of the spirit of the disabled persons' self-esteem, self-confidence, self-reliance. The green background symbolizes the tenacious vitality while the plum in full bloom symbolizes the hope of the people with disabilities.
- The plum is composed by five interconnected Chinese characters for "人（people）", which symbolizes that disabled persons join hands and live in the warm society where they can be understood and respected. It also symbolizes that all the people of the country follow the humanitarian and form a whole together with the disabled.
- The colour gold used for the center graphic and the sideline stands for the sunshine of the country. It is the symbol of the vibrant thriving cause for the disabled.
- The badge of China Disabled Persons' Federation uses the emblem as the obverse side and marks the back with the words "China Disabled Persons' Federation".
National organizations
The National People's Congress
The highest authority of the China Disabled Persons' Federation is the National People's Congress. The National People's Congress is held every five years. The deputies are convened by the Bureau of the CDPF and more than half of them should be disabled persons or their relatives. The powers of the National People’s Congress are considering reports from the Bureau of the China Disabled Persons' Federation in order to determine working principles and tasks, modifying the China Disabled Persons' Federation charter and electing of the Bureau of the CDPF.Honorary positions
The CDPF can set up Honorary Chairman and Honorary Vice-Chairman, both shall be appointed by the Bureau of the China Disabled Persons' Federation.The Bureau
The Bureau is elected every five years. During the intersession of the National People's Congress, the Bureau is responsible for implementing the resolutions of the National People's Congress and guiding the work of the CDPF. The Bureau consists of a Chairman, several Vice-Chairmen and several members.More than half of the members of the Bureau should be disabled persons or their relatives. The Bureau meeting, which is convened by the Chairman of the Bureau, should be held at least once a year. The Bureau implements the Democratic Centralism. The Bureau is mainly responsible for personnel changes in the CDPF and supervision work.
The Executive Board
The Executive Board is the permanent executive body of the National People's Congress of the CDPF and the Bureau which is composed of a Chairman, several Vice-Chairmen and several members. There should be representatives from all kinds of disabled persons or their relatives in the Executive Board. The Chairman is elected by the Bureau of the CDPF, appointed by the government and shall not serve for more than two consecutive terms. The Vice-Chairmen and members are nominated by the Chairman and have to be adopted by the Bureau. The Executive Board imposed the Chairman of the responsibility. The Executive Board has set up several administrative offices and undertakes the daily work of the CDPF.The Specialized Associations
The Specialized Associations are composed from Association for the Blind, Association for the Deaf, Association for Disabled Persons, Association for Mentally Disabled Persons, etc. The Committees of the Specialized Associations are elected by representatives from the National People's Congress.Duties of the Specialized Associations are
- To represent, associate, educate and unite disabled persons in the same category.
- To reflect special wishes and needs.
- To safeguard the legitimate rights and interests and fight for social help.
- To participate in international activities.
The Group Members
National Community Groups, which are related to the career of disabled person and admit the Constitution, can apply for the Group Members of CDPF.International Organizations
CDPF has also worked with many international organizations.Disabled Persons' International
CDPF is part of the National Assembly put together by Disabled Peoples International.Journals
The organization publishes two journals:''The China Disabled Persons''
The China Disabled Persons was founded in January 1989, organized by the China Disabled Persons' Federation. It is a domestic public offering of comprehensive monthly journal of the CDPF, for carrying forward the humanitarian and servicing for the disabled. Being the only national institutional journal for the disabled, the magazine played an active role in promoting the CDPF's work.The main readers of the journal are disabled persons, their families and other community. The journal distributes to mainland China, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan regions, as well as a dozen other countries.
The main contents of the journal include the social problems of disabled persons; introduction of laws, regulations and policies of the country; rehabilitation, education, employment, life and other aspects of information services for people with disabilities and so on.
''Blind Monthly''
Blind Monthly is the only Braille cultural publications, founded in Beijing on March 15, 1954 and sponsored by the China Disabled Persons' Federation. The main readership is the majority of blind persons in China.The main contents of the journal include reporting developments of China's undertakings for disabled persons; introducing Chinese blind persons' work, learning, life and other aspects and publishing outstanding literary works and musical works of blind people.