The Evolution of Global Human Rights Governance: China’s Participation and Contribution

LUO Yanhua*

Abstract: The development of global human rights governance is mainly reflected in two dimensions: normative development and institutional development. From the establishment of human rights principles by the UN Charter, the setting of human rights standards by the Declaration, to the construction of the international human rights law system and the continuous enrichment of human rights content, all these constitute important normative advances in global human rights governance. In terms of mechanisms of global human rights governance, the UN human rights protection mechanisms fall into two major categories: Charter-based mechanisms and treaty-based mechanisms. Currently, the Charter-based mechanisms center on the work of the UN Human Rights Council and its subsidiary bodies, including the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) Mechanism and the special procedures mechanism, while the treaty-based mechanisms supervise the implementation of international human rights treaties. China has actively participated in global human rights governance, and has also made significant contributions to it. The overall trend of China’s participation is characterized by a more proactive attitude, deeper engagement, and growing influence. At present, China’s contributions to global human rights governance are mainly manifested in two dimensions: material support and conceptual guidance for global human rights governance.

Keywords: global human rights governance · norms of global human rights governance · mechanisms of global human rights governance · UN human rights mechanisms