Entrusted by the National People's Congress, “Legislative Workshop of Protection of Rights and Interests of the Aged” was jointly held by Human Rights Institute of China University of Political Science and Law (CUPL) and China Law Center of the Yale University Law School in Beijing from July 8th, 2012 to July 9th, 2012. Many famous experts, professors and scholars attended the workshop.

The workshop consisted of three parts: the opening ceremony, the keynote speech and the collective discussion and the closing ceremony. The opening ceremony began at nine o’clock on the morning on July 8th, 2012 and was hosted by Professor Zhang Wei, executive vice president of Human Rights Institute. Professor Huang Jin, president of CUPL and dean of Human Rights Institute, was first to addresses the audience. He first warmly welcomed all the guests who attended this workshop.

Professor Huang Jin pointed out that our country has entered into a phase of aging society. The current social structure and economic situation of China has greatly changed. Law of the People’s Republic of China on the Protection of Rights and Interests of the Aged was formulated in 1996, and can no longer completely adapt to the practical needs of today. Thus, some of the rules need to be revised. It is hoped that this workshop could contribute to the revision of the Law of the People’s Republic of China on the Protection of Rights and Interests of the Aged, in order to promote the protection of the aged.

Mr. Chen Sixi, deputy director of the Committee for Internal and Judicial Affairs under the National People's Congress, spoke highly of the work done by Human Rights Institute of China University of Political Science and Law together with China Law Center of Law School of Yale University and expressed his gratitude. Finally, the opening ceremony ended with the speech by Ms. Katherine A. Wilhelm, a senior researcher of China Law Center of Law School of Yale University. She pointed out, in her speech, that the aging of population is a serious problem both in China and the US.

To make the discussion more focused on the major issues, the keynote speech and the collective discussion part were divided into two units, mainly around two aspects that urgently need to be resolved: guardianship of the aged and social services.

The first unit discussed the “guardianship of the aged” and was hosted by Professor Zhu Yong, deputy director of the National Elderly Committee Office. Professor Xia YinLan from the School of Civil, Commercial, and Economic Laws of China University of Political Science and Law, gave the first speech on "To improve the legislation of China's guardianship system of the aged". Then, Lisa Nachmias Davis who engaged in the work as a practice attorney in the United States made a speech titled, "The protection and agency of the elderly and the person with declining capability". During the group discussion round, experts and scholars had a heated discussion and actively exchanged views for the guardianship system of the aged and put forward many valuable proposals.

The second unit discussed "social services" and was hosted by Ms. Sulin Han, a senior researcher at the China Law Center of Law School of Yale University. Professor Xiao JinMing from the Law School of Shandong University first carried on speech, titled "Problems and countermeasures of social endowment service." Ms. Kate McEvoy, deputy director of Health Services and Support Division of Social Services Department from Connecticut, U.S., spoke on the topic of "Balance of public and private responsibility in long-term care ". After the keynote speeches were made, the participants carried out fully and interesting discussions around pension services and other great tops.

The workshop fast approached to an end. During the closing ceremony. The valuable legislative recommendations from the workshop had been fully recognized, and the cooperation between departments and government organs was needed to promote the revision of the "Law of the People’s Republic of China on the Protection of Rights and Interests of the Aged” and to better protect the rights and interests of the aged.

Finally, the workshop ended in a warm and harmonious atmosphere.