China on Monday announced amendments to improve its judicial procedures for human rights, according to a white paper published by the State Council Information Office.

The reforms include tightening judicial processes to prevent illegally obtained evidence and upholding the presumption of innocence until proven guilty.

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"China has revised the Criminal Procedure Law, and implemented principles of legality, in dubio pro reo, exclusion of unlawful evidence," according to the paper entitled New Progress in the Judicial Protection of Human Rights in China.

The paper detailed recent improvements like fitting interrogation rooms and detention centers with audio and video recording equipment to avoid the extortion of confessions by torture and other illegal means. The country has also introduced its first anti-domestic violence law and juvenile criminal cases procedures to aid minors to reintegrate into society, the South China Morning Post reported.

"Meanwhile, the judicial accountability system has been improved, while judicial transparency promoted to ensure the right to know and the right to supervise for concerned parties and the public," the document read.

China has also made efforts to uphold lawyers' right to practice, making it easier for lawyers to participate in litigation and improve accountability, Global Times reported.

The paper also featured pilot programs to change the system of people's assessors and supervisors, the establishment of a national judicial assistance system, and the eradication of the system of re-education through labor.

Over the past years, China has made efforts to advance judicial reform, according to Xinhua. Among other efforts, authorities have cut down the number of crimes punishable by death penalty. About 13 offenses punishable by death penalty were abolished in 2011. Nine other crimes were added to the list in 2015. 

Tagschina, Human Rights, judicial process