GENEVA, Jan. 24 — As the United Nations Human Rights Council launched the fourth round of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of China's human rights record, a thematic side event titled "Human Rights Protection for the Next Generation: Focusing on the Rights of Children and Adolescents" was held in Geneva on January 23. Co-hosted by the Beijing New Sunshine Charity Foundation and the China NGO Network for International Exchanges, the event brought together Chinese and foreign experts and scholars from multiple social organizations to discuss the theme.

Zhu Jingfang, a researcher at the China NGO Network for International Exchanges, noted that Chinese social organizations have made many active explorations in protecting the rights of children and adolescents, and are willing to work with social organizations from all countries to promote the implementation of relevant international treaties and public participation, so as to safeguard a bright future for the next generation in all respects.

David López, a Latin American human rights advisor at the International Association for Human Rights and Social Development, said that since ratifying the Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1992, China has made remarkable progress in child rights protection. China has made tremendous efforts to improve healthcare and children's health, including expanding healthcare coverage and implementing vaccination programs.

Zhang Yong, deputy secretary-general of the China Internet Society Organizations Federation, said that carrying out online protection for minors has become a common consensus among countries around the world. China attaches great importance to online protection for minors and has done a great deal of effective work in recent years.

On January 23, China participated in the fourth round of the UPR at the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland. The UPR is an important platform for countries to conduct equal and candid exchanges on human rights issues and to engage in constructive dialogue and cooperation within the UN framework. China participated in the previous three rounds of the review in 2009, 2013 and 2018.