 Chen Guangcheng , a blind self @-@ taught Weiquan lawyer , rose to prominence for defending victims of China 's one @-@ child policy . First implemented in 1979 , the one @-@ child policy mandates that couples may only have one child , though there are exceptions for some rural citizens , ethnic minorities , and couples who were themselves only children . Though Chinese laws condemn harsh enforcement measures , Chinese authorities and family planning staff have been accused of carrying out coercive , late @-@ term forced abortions , sterilization , incarceration and torture to enforce the policy . In 2005 , Chen Guangcheng filed a class action case against family planning officials in Linyi , Shandong , who were accused of subjecting thousands of women to sterilization or forced abortions . 
