Steven Rancourt, a foreign expert at the International Communication Center of Shanghai Media Group (SMG): Finding heartfelt care in details of public interest litigation

Since arriving in Shanghai in 2004, Steven Rancourt, a Canadian, has been a witness to China's remarkable development through the lens of a media professional.

Recently, Steven, a foreign expert at the International Communication Center of SMG, took part in the latest episode of ShanghaiEye. During this time, he explored Shanghai's accessible environment development in an immersive way and got an up-close look at the public interest litigation effort of the procuratorate. What did Steven think of his experience? And how did he feel about the public interest litigation work of the procuratorate? We reached out to Steven for an interview.

Reporter: Hey, Steven! Could you tell us about this episode?

Steven: Sure! So, ShanghaiEye is like this awesome English news show on Oriental TV. It's got this huge reach, both in China and overseas. It gives expats the latest and most useful info. It's really focused on life in Shanghai - stuff like finance, tech, culture, and sports. And of course, it shares Chinese stories and explains what's going on here.

This year, we decided to do an episode looking into the accessibility facilities in Shanghai. The city's accessible environment development started back in the 1980s. In 2003, the first local regulation on accessibility facilities in China was introduced here. By 2023, both the Regulations on the Development of Accessible Environments in Shanghai and the Law of the People's Republic of China on the Development of Accessible Environments had come into effect. It was while I was digging through all these materials that I first heard about the public interest litigation system of the procuratorate. I found out that the procuratorate can actually conduct legal supervision over the development of accessible environments. If there are any violations of the laws and regulations, they can even initiate public interest litigation. I used to mainly focus on lifestyle and cultural topics, and I'd never really dealt with legal issues before. This system was completely new and really interesting to me. I wanted to find out more about what the procuratorate has been doing behind the scenes to support accessible environment development, and that's how this episode came to be.

Reporter: What really impress you during the interview and filming?

Steven: So, the prosecutor took us to check out this "15-minute community life circle" in Zhongshan Park. We also visited Yangpu Library and Shanghai Wusongkou International Cruise Terminal. What really caught my eye were all the new elevators in the residential areas, the accessible parking spots, restrooms, and ramps in public places, and of course, the tactile paving along the way. With all these facilities, I think people with disabilities, seniors, and others are going to have a much easier time whether they’re living in Shanghai or just visiting.

What really stuck with me was how the procuratorate used public interest litigation to help Yangpu Library get its accessible environment renovated. This library was built back in the 1930s. When it reopened a few years ago, they did set up an accessible reading area, but it was pretty cramped, and the facilities were pretty basic. It was tough for wheelchairs to get around. In 2024, the Yangpu District People's Procuratorate stepped in. They supervised and pushed the relevant departments to help the library with the renovations. Now, the tactile paving guides you all the way to the accessible reading room, which has also been made bigger. They've got Braille books, Braille keyboards, audio software, and large print readers. It's great - whether you have hearing or visual impairments, or you're in a wheelchair, you can really enjoy reading here.

It's not just the changes at Yangpu Library's accessible reading room. There's also the accessible restroom at Shanghai Wusongkou International Cruise Terminal. Thanks to the procuratorate's watch, the handrails and grab bars there are now the right size. These little things might not catch everyone's eye, but they really matter for people with disabilities. They make a big difference in their everyday travel. The procuratorate's work in checking and fixing these issues is super helpful for them.

You know what else I noticed? The procuratorate is really stepping up. They invited some people with disabilities to be like "goodwill volunteers" to spot problems with the accessibility stuff and give suggestions on how to fix it. It's cool because it makes the procuratorate's work way more professional. Shanghai is such an open and welcoming city. Seeing all these little details, I have to say, it really warms your heart.

Reporter: So, what was the biggest thing you took away from this experience?

Steven: Let me start with a story. When they were working on making Yangpu Library more accessible, the prosecutors noticed that the elevator didn't have any voice announcements. It used to have them, but some readers said the noise was too loud and distracting, so they turned it off. Libraries are supposed to be quiet, but those announcements are super important for people who can't see. Plus, they needed to install tactile paving, but the library is a historic building with these old red bricks on the floor that they had to protect. So, how do you solve all these problems? The prosecutors got everyone together - administrators, architects, volunteers, regular readers, and people with visual impairments. In the end, they figured out how to adjust the volume of the announcements and put the accessible reading room right by the north entrance. It was a great solution.

Seeing how the procuratorate worked through all this really showed me the power of democracy and the rule of law in action. But more than that, it sent a clear message: Caring for people who need extra support isn't just one person's job - it takes all of us.

Honestly, before this, I never really paid attention to accessibility stuff around me. But now I realize I've never been to a public restroom without an accessible stall. Building an accessible environment isn't just about following rules - it's a sign of how civilized a society is. Shanghai's come a long way in just a few decades, thanks to the hard work of the procuratorate and everyone else who has pitched in.

Reporter: Do you have any suggestions for the public interest litigation effort?

Steven: Well, checking up on accessible environment development is just one part of what public interest litigation does. There's so much more - like environmental stuff, protecting personal info, and preserving history and culture. I've been in China for over 20 years and have seen it grow super fast. China is leading in a lot of areas, and that's pretty amazing. But China is huge, and there's always room for improvement. Public interest litigation is such important effort, it's a big responsibility. I hope the procuratorate keeps pushing forward, making China even better and our lives even better. And as a media guy, I'd love to dig into more of this procuratorial work and share more stories about it in the future.