China Disabled Persons' Federation president, Deng Pufang, won the 2003 United Nations Prize for Human Rights.
Deng Pufang, along with three other elite advocates of human rights, including the late UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Sergio de Mello, and two organizations, will receive the award next Wednesday on the Human Rights Day.
The winners will be invited to attend the General Assembly meeting on December 10th to be presented with their commemorative plaques by the Secretary-General and the President of the General Assembly.
At a congratulatory speech for Deng Pufang, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman said Deng Pufang deserves the prize.
The spokesman said Deng Pufang has devoted himself to improving the lives of China's disabled people and protecting their human rights, and contributed greatly to improving the situation of China's disabled people. The prize is both an appreciation of Deng Pufang's achievements, and an affirmation of China's efforts in promoting and protecting human rights.
The prize was established in 1966 in the lead-up to the International Year for Human Rights. It is envisaged as a measure to honor and commend people and organizations which have made an outstanding contribution to the promotion and protection of the human rights.