BEIJING, May 10, 2007 -- A senior political advisor was elected President of the Chinese Society for Human Rights Studies (CSHRS), the country's largest national academic organisation on human rights, on Thursday.

More than 160 standing members of the organisation voted their support for Luo Haocai, vice-chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), China's top advisory body, at a council meeting of the CSHRS.

Founded in January 1993, the CSHRS aims to conduct academic studies on human rights, and strengthen exchanges with human rights experts and organizations overseas.

The organisation enjoys a special consultative status in the United Nations Economic and Social Council and has been listed as one of the core "World Human Rights Research Institutions" by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).

According to Luo, over the past ten years the CSHRS has persistently explored human rights theory and actively taken part in promoting the cause of human rights.

"It has made important contributions to human rights theory in China," he said.

"Today, China's human rights cause is facing an unprecedented period for development," stated Luo, "respecting and safeguarding human rights has grown into a major theme of China's social development."

Luo announced that, in a bid to improve the awareness of human rights issues, the CSHRS will continue its hard work in promoting human rights education throughout the country.