Beijing Huiling, and the New Era Citizen Education Institute are working with a private law firm to propose amendments to the 1990 Law on Protection of Disabled Persons..

'The main problem with the law is enforcement because it is too abstract to follow, no matter how nice the format and the logic seem,' Ms. Meng Weina, the founder of Huiling, a well-established NGO serving mentally handicapped youth, told China Development Brief. 'Actually,' she added, 'This is a common problem with Chinese law.'

Ms. Meng is hoping to raise around CNY 1 million (USD 120,000) to conduct public opinion surveys and consultation workshops over the next twelve months. She reports that various other disability-focused NGOs have expressed interest in the process, and that the Tsinghua University NGO Research Centre and a Volunteers Association at Beijing University of Politics and Law have pledged to contribute their expertise and knowledge

Ms. Meng also plans, as an outcome from the consultation process, to publish a handbook for Chinese NGOs on participation in the legislative process. 'We have to change the legislative process,' she says emphatically. 'Without the involvement of as many stakeholders as possible it is impossible to draft a good law.'

The China Disabled Person's Federation (CDPF) originally drafted the 1990 law. In November 2004 the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) agreed a review process at the joint request of CDPF, the Ministry of Civil Affairs and other government departments. The review is expected to last three years, at the end of which the NPC will consider proposed revisions.

Report by Tina Qian, February 21, 2005