[JURIST] The Chinese government signed a Memorandum of Understanding [UN News report] Wednesday agreeing to collaborate with the UN's human rights agency to reform the Chinese legal system in preparation for the adoption of a key UN treaty on civil and political rights. The agreement to revise China's Criminal Procedure Law, its lawyers' law, and other related laws and regulations was signed by Chinese diplomats and United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCHR) [official website] Louise Arbour and is a major development towards Beijing accepting the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights [text], although there is no set date for ratification of the document. The UNHCHR agreed to assist China in reforming it's legal system, to help implement recommendations for economic, social, and cultural rights, and to help establish a program that would teach human rights in schools. AP has more. Read the UNHCHR press release.