Reform boosts human rights protections

Courts ordered to protect civil liberties during defendants' trials and detentions

Editor's Note: This is the first in a series of special reports to mark achievements in various sectors during the 12th Five-Year Plan (2011-15).

Shang Aiyun spent nearly 10 years fighting to clear the name of her son, Hugjiltu, an 18-year-old ethnic Mongolian who was executed in 1996 after being found guilty of rape and murder. Thanks to Shang's persistence and changes to the judicial system, the verdict was overturned in December.