At the 55th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council, China’s permanent representative to the UN Office in Geneva, Chen Xu, emphasized the crucial role of constructive dialogue and cooperation in promoting and protecting human rights globally.
Delivering a joint statement on behalf of the Group of Friends on the Promotion of Human Rights through Dialogues and Cooperation, Chen Xu denounced the politicization and instrumentalization of human rights issues. He highlighted that the increasingly polarized atmosphere within the Human Rights Council runs counter to its original intentions and violates principles of universality, impartiality, objectivity, non-politicization, and non-selectivity.
“The establishment of country-specific mechanisms against the will of the countries concerned and the proliferation of parallel mechanisms lead to a significant waste of financial and human resources without yielding tangible outcomes,” Chen stated. “Such actions are not conducive to the promotion or protection of human rights.”
The joint statement reiterated three key propositions regarding the work of the Human Rights Council:
- Uphold fairness and justice: Adhere to the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, oppose interference in the internal affairs of member states using human rights as a pretext, and call for the immediate cessation of unilateral coercive measures.
- Promote openness and inclusiveness: Play a constructive role in facilitating dialogue and cooperation on an equal and mutually respectful basis, expand consensus through dialogue and exchanges, and work together to protect and promote human rights through peace, security, and common development.
- Ensure objectivity and impartiality: Conduct work based on accurate and objective information, respect the sovereignty and political independence of all countries, acknowledge the human rights development paths chosen by each country based on their domestic situations, and provide technical assistance and capacity building according to the countries’ needs and wishes.
The joint statement received widespread support and appreciation from developing countries, highlighting a collective desire for a more cooperative and less politicized approach to human rights issues on the international stage.
Reference(s):
Dialogue, cooperation key to protect human rights: Chinese ambassador
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