Cover Story | Zhang Wei: Crossing Mountains and Seas to Sow the Seeds of Rule of Law in the "Pearl of the Silk Road"
Published:
2024-10-30
The "1+1" China Legal Aid Volunteer Action is a large-scale public welfare activity for legal aid jointly initiated and organized by the Ministry of Justice and the Central Committee of the Communist Youth League. Since the project was implemented in 2009, numerous legal professionals have dedicated themselves to this initiative. They handle legal aid cases, conduct legal lectures and public legal education, serve as legal advisors to local party committees and governments, and participate in conflict resolution efforts. They travel to harsh environments and engage with grassroots communities, bringing the law to everyone, ensuring that people in remote areas can know, understand, abide by, and utilize the law. On September 13, the launch ceremony for the "1+1" China Legal Aid Volunteer Action for 2024 was held at the Great Hall of the People, where volunteers from all over the country gathered. Lawyer Zhang Wei from Zhongcheng Qingtai Law Firm was among them.
The "1+1" China Legal Aid Volunteer Action is a large-scale public welfare activity for legal aid jointly initiated and organized by the Ministry of Justice and the Central Committee of the Communist Youth League. Since the project was implemented in 2009, a group of legal workers have devoted themselves to this action. They handle legal aid cases, conduct legal lectures and legal awareness campaigns, serve as legal advisors to local party committees and governments, and participate in conflict resolution work... They travel to difficult environments and move among grassroots communities, bringing the law to everyone, ensuring that people in remote areas can know, understand, abide by, and use the law.
On September 13, the launch ceremony for the "1+1" China Legal Aid Volunteer Action 2024 was held at the Great Hall of the People, where volunteers from all over the country gathered. Lawyer Zhang Wei from Zhongcheng Qingtai Law Firm was one of them.
01
Departure from Beijing:
Strengthen the overall perspective and improve legal aid capabilities.
On September 14, Lawyer Zhang Wei departed from Beijing, boarding a flight to Kashgar, embarking on his journey for legal aid in Kashgar. On the plane, he reflected on the past few days, which were tense yet fulfilling.
To ensure the smooth progress of legal aid work, on September 10, Lawyer Zhang Wei went to the Judicial Administrative College of the Ministry of Justice in Beijing, where he participated in a three-day intensive training organized by the Ministry of Justice along with 127 volunteer lawyers from across the country. The training covered important and difficult issues in various fields, including criminal defense, guarantee systems, administrative reconsideration and dispute resolution, and the implementation of the Labor Contract Law. Professors from the Central Party School, China University of Political Science and Law, and other universities systematically explained the latest developments and practical operations in legal aid, ensuring that every volunteer was equipped to handle complex aid cases.
On September 13, the "1+1" China Legal Aid Volunteer Action 2023 annual work report video played at the launch ceremony touched everyone present. Wearing the "1+1" legal aid volunteer sash and gazing at the solemn and magnificent Great Hall of the People, Zhang Wei gained a deeper understanding of the significance of the support work, filled with a sense of responsibility and mission.
02
Engaging in Kashgar:
Relieving difficulties for the people and maintaining fairness and justice.
Legal aid connects the suffering of the people with the care of the government, and volunteers become the link between the two. Zhang Wei kept his responsibilities in mind, and after arriving in Kashgar, he quickly adjusted to work. In just one month, he took on 26 criminal cases, 3 civil cases, and 2 labor arbitration cases, including 3 cases involving the elderly, 1 case involving a person with disabilities, and 3 cases involving migrant workers, as well as receiving over 30 consultations and resolving 2 non-litigation petition cases. These cases covered a wide range of types, including criminal defense, criminal assistance, and guilty plea witnessing.
Zhang Wei once served as a guilty plea witness lawyer for a minor. During their conversation, he learned that the individual believed that as a minor, they would not be legally responsible even if they committed theft, and did not expect to be sentenced. While providing legal witnessing, Zhang Wei conducted legal education, and under his patient guidance, the individual expressed regret and stated they would study legal knowledge well and become a law-abiding citizen.
In addition to handling cases, Zhang Wei also actively and enthusiastically answered civil consultation questions from the public. Although these consultation issues seemed trivial, they had a profound impact on the lives of ordinary people. He helped resolve multiple family disputes and labor disputes, clarifying the legal rights of the parties involved through mediation and legal consultation, thus avoiding further disputes. Zhang Wei's work not only resolved individual cases but also invisibly raised the legal awareness of the local community.
03
Teaching to fish:
Conducting legal education lectures to promote the rule of law.
Legal provisions and cases may be cold, but the people and lives behind them are vibrant. "Some cases may involve small amounts, but for these struggling people, it is a huge matter, life-saving money, and hope for survival." Zhang Wei has participated in multiple cases of workers seeking unpaid wages. Facing workers who labored hard but could not receive their due compensation, Zhang Wei overcame language barriers, patiently inquired about the situation, and carefully analyzed the case. After returning to the office, he worked overnight to write arbitration applications and reviewed hundreds of case files to collect evidence... He understood that only with sufficient preparation could he fight for more deserved benefits for the workers during labor arbitration hearings.
Teaching to fish is better than giving fish. During his time in Kashgar, Zhang Wei participated in multiple legal awareness promotion activities, conducting legal education lectures for local residents based on actual cases, helping them understand how to protect their rights through legal channels. These activities were recognized by local judicial authorities and further enhanced the public's trust in the law.
"Through legal aid work, I deeply feel the responsibility and mission of legal professionals," said Zhang Wei. "We are not only handling cases but also contributing to national unity and the construction of a society governed by the rule of law." It is this sense of responsibility that drives him to tirelessly work 4,000 kilometers away from his hometown, bringing legal aid to everyone in need.
Leveraging professional advantages to practice the purpose of serving the people through the rule of law. Since the "1+1" legal aid action began, 13 lawyers from Zhongcheng Qingtai have gone to regions with insufficient legal resources such as Xinjiang, Tibet, and Qinghai to provide legal aid services. In the future, more lawyers will join this action, striving to sow the seeds of law in every piece of land, allowing the flowers of fairness and justice to bloom in everyone's heart.
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