An In-depth Interpretation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights With the Common Values of Humanity As the Research Paradigm

ZHANG Wenxian

Abstract: Interpreting the Universal Declaration of Human Rights from political, juridical and philosophical perspectives is essential for promoting the guiding principles of the Declaration, building consensus on human rights, and advancing human rights practice in the new historical context. To conduct an academic, systematic interpretation of the Declaration that conforms to the trends of the times and answers the fundamental questions of the world, it is necessary to find a new research paradigm. The common values of humanity, namely peace, development, equity, justice, democracy and freedom, put forward by Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, provide the most explanatory and penetrating scientific paradigm for reaching the issue. This paper analyzes and reflects on the views, value foundation and principled (contractual) consensus of human rights in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and narrates and foresees the far-reaching significance of the three global initiatives (namely, the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, and the Global Civilization Initiative) with the common values of humanity as the soul in advancing the modernization of global human rights governance and building a new form of human rights civilization.

Keywords: common values of humanity · paradigm based on the common values of humanity · Universal Declaration of Human Rights · views of human rights · three global initiatives