The United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council on Tuesday adopted a China-sponsored resolution advocating a cooperation approach in the field of human rights.
The resolution, titled "Promoting Mutually Beneficial Cooperation in the Field of Human Rights," calls upon all states to uphold multilateralism and encourages other stakeholders, including international, regional and non-governmental organizations, to contribute actively to this endeavor.
It emphasizes that international cooperation should be actively carried out to effectively respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and ensure the accessibility and affordability of vaccines to developing countries.
UPHOLDING MULTILATERALISM
Introducing the draft resolution to the UN body, Chen Xu, head of the Chinese Mission to the UN in Geneva, said that the purpose of the resolution is to further call for upholding multilateralism.
"The pandemic once again shows that countries must step up consultation and cooperation, and uphold and practice multilateralism so as to effectively address global challenges, promote peace and development, and realize the goal of full enjoyment of human rights by all," the Chinese ambassador said.
To this end, he explained, China and the resolution's co-sponsors including Belarus, Cuba, Egypt, Iran, Syria, Venezuela and a number of other countries, called for upholding multilateralism, conducting constructive dialogue and cooperation on the basis of equality and mutual respect.
According to the Chinese diplomat, before presenting the draft resolution, China had, in a transparent, open and constructive manner, held two informal consultations, exchanged ideas with various parties and took on board reasonable suggestions for amendment.
"China's initiative on the promotion of mutually beneficial cooperation in the field of human rights is in line with the shared aspiration of the international community," Chen said.
BEST COVID-19 DEFENSE
With two previous resolutions on human rights cooperation being adopted respectively in 2020 and 2018, this is the third time the UN rights body has adopted a China-sponsored resolution advocating a cooperative and constructive approach for the world's human rights cause.
The latest resolution is also an echo of a recent UN report provided to the 46th session of the UN rights body, which stressed that solidarity and cooperation are the best defense against COVID-19 and the key to the recovery process.
"The pandemic is a clear test of international cooperation and solidarity. Decisive leadership and concerted action are particularly vital in critical areas for the realization of economic, social and cultural rights in the context of recovering better," said the report.
According to the resolution, all human rights are universal, indivisible, interrelated, interdependent and mutually reinforcing, and all human rights, including the right to development, must be treated in a fair and equal manner, on the same footing and with the same emphasis.
The resolution also expresses deep concern over the stigmatization, xenophobia, racism and discrimination as well as hate speech in many parts of the world, and stresses the need to combat them.
It, at the same time, highlights that dialogue among religions, cultures and civilizations in the field of human rights could contribute greatly to the enhancement of international cooperation and facilitate building a community of shared future for human beings in which human rights are enjoyed by all.
It also proposes that the Human Rights Council hold a meeting in a timely manner on the promotion and protection of the human rights of persons in vulnerable and marginalized situations during and after the pandemic in order to better share experiences and good practices.
CONSTRUCTIVE APPROACH
Speaking in support of the resolution on Tuesday, a representative from Cuba said that Cuba thanks the delegation of China for the presentation of resolution and for the constructive and open spirit that China demonstrated during the entire drafting process.
"Cooperation among countries on the base and principle of the UN Charter is the sole guarantee for the promotion and effective protection of human rights," the Cuban representative said, adding that the resolution helps promote these principles in the Human Rights Council.
For the representative of the African country of Eritrea, differences should not hinder the efforts of states and stakeholders in promoting and protecting all human rights through mutually beneficial cooperation.
Speaking before the adoption of the resolution, the Eritrean representative stressed that the resolution aims to promote engagement, dialogue and cooperation by recognizing the universality and indivisibility of human rights.
Eritrea believes that the adoption of the resolution can bridge divisions among members of the Council and help the Council to avoid "politicization, double standards and confrontation through building a viable atmosphere of dialogue and cooperation," the representative said.
Before voting in favor of the resolution, a Russian representative said that Russia highlights "the very constructive approach" of the resolution.
Noting that certain countries who lecture others on human rights essentially interfere in the latter's internal affairs and thus create confrontation, the Russian representative said those resolution-critics are in fact against multilateralism and equality in the field of human rights.
"The resolution creates conditions for mutual cooperation based on mutual benefits to combat our common challenges in the area of human rights, and this is especially timely in the situation we're all facing the pandemic of COVID-19," he said.
