Pilot to safeguard inmates' human rights

China has pledged to take effective measures to protect the legitimate rights of convicts as an important part of ongoing judicial reform.

According to the Ministry of Justice, a pilot program featuring basic medical insurance will be established in six provinces and municipalities to protect the human rights of prisoners.

The two-year program will initially be trialed in areas including the provinces of Heilongjiang, Hainan and Shaanxi before being expanded nationwide, according to Wang Jinyi, director of the Prison Management Bureau at the Ministry of Justice.