DAI RuiJun

 

Abstract: Global governance of human rights started off at the end of World War II. Based on “International Bill of Human rights”, United Nations has developed “Charter-based” and “treaty-based” mechanisms of Human Rights respectively. In 2006, global governance system of human rights underwent a significant reform, with which the Human Rights Council (HRC) as the affiliation to UN General Assembly has been established, to replace the Commission on Human Rights (CHR), a functional department of Economic and Social Council. Reform initiatives not only made human rights, development and security side by side the three pillars of UN, embodying the mainstreaming of human rights within UN system, but also reaffirmed the following fundamental principles of global governance of human rights: equality, dialogue, cooperation, universality, non-selectivity as well as depoliticization.

 

However, there is always a gap between ideal and reality. Global governance of human rights faces the threats come from traditional and non-traditional security concerns, faces the structural obstacles such as inequality between countries and unbalanced development between north and South, and faces the shock of unilateral actions of United States and some other countries to carry out human rights sanction abroad on the ground of their domestic laws, which divert from the UN human rights governance system.

 

In this context, China put forward the proposal of constructing a community of shared future for mankind, pointing out that the realization of full enjoyment of human rights by the people all over the world is a common value of all human society; jointly constructing a community of shared future for mankind can be a driving force for building a fair, rational and inclusive global system of human rights governance.

 

The principles of dialogue and consultation, co-construction and sharing, win-win cooperation, exchange and mutual learning, green and low-carbon are highly compatible with the principle and values of global human rights governance.

 

Dialogue and consultation is the embodiment of the principle of sovereign equality in the field of human rights governance. As for the human rights issue, States should respect each other and have equal dialogue. No one could dictate others or impose their own idea on the other States.

 

Co-construction and sharing emphasizes that all countries and all peoples have their inherent dignity. They could develop together and share development achievements in a cooperative way. Promoting development through cooperation and promoting human rights through development is not only a portrayal of China's human rights approach, but also China's experience and contribution to global human rights governance.

 

Win-win cooperation and international cooperation in the field of human rights is one of the basic principles of global human rights governance, as well as an obligation of states under international human rights law. If a country has the ability to assist others, it should undertake this obligation.

 

Exchanges and mutual learning recognize the universality of human rights and the specificity of the approach to realize human rights. Universal periodic review （UPR） system is a typical case of this principle. One of the original purposes of this system is to build a platform for countries to exchange good practices in the field of human rights protection.

 

Green and low carbon is the fundamental requirement for realizing environmental rights, and also the goal of the 2030 Global Sustainable Development Agenda. Constructing a model of respecting nature and green development exists side by side with the enjoyment and realization of human rights.

 

Beside idea contribution, China has taken practical actions to promote the healthy development of global human rights governance. First of all, she lead hundreds of millions of people get out of poverty and make significant contribution to the cause of global poverty reduction. Secondly, China advocates and leads the construction of “Belt and Road”, which provide a common platform for different regions, different countries with different stages of development, different cultural traditions and different ideology.

 

Thirdly, China generously assisted Africa and other developing countries, to enhance their level of human rights protection. Fourthly, with an open and inclusive mentality, China has carried out civilized exchanges and mutual understanding to lay a solid humanistic foundation for a community of shared future for mankind.

 

Key Words: a community of shared future for mankind; global governance of human rights; United Nations; belt and road; sustainable development