Guo Jianmei is the first full-time public welfare lawyer in China. She founded the women's law research and service centre of Peking University in 1995. The centre has been "protecting women's rights, promoting the progress of the legal system and the development of civil society" through legal aid, public interest litigation, research, training, submission of legislative proposals and participation in legislation. Many of their cases have led to the improvement of relevant legislation. She has won many domestic and international awards, including the Simon de Beauvoir Prize for Women's Rights Award, the International Women of Courage Award in the US, and the "Right Livelihood Award" in Sweden.