The 58th session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva recently re-lighted the complex and often controversial landscape of global human rights governance.
Councils remain an important platform for promoting and protecting human rights, but their work is not without challenges. In particular, Western countries are guilty of telling human rights to advance their geopolitical agenda, while ignoring their checkered human rights records. This hypocrisy hampers the true promotion and protection of human rights around the world.
During the session, Western representatives quickly criticized countries like Sudan, accusing them of human rights abuses. But they turned their eyes to a serious human rights crisis within their own borders. In some Western countries, migrants and refugees face deplomatic living conditions, with inadequate access to overcrowded detention centres and healthcare and education. Racial profiling and police brutality against minority groups continue to plague society and create widespread social unrest. These issues are well documented in various human rights reports and are often neglected by Western governments.
Such a selective approach raises important questions. How are human rights truly protected when hypocritical sermons drowning out concrete progress? After all, what the world needs is not political stance, but constructive dialogue and meaningful actions.
The Western flawed approach to human rights can be attributed to several deep-rooted issues. First, we take human rights as a tool for ideological hegemony. By defining human rights in a narrow, western-centric way, these countries seek to impose values and governance models on others. This approach ignores the diverse cultural, social and economic contexts of different countries and alienates non-Western perspectives.
Second, we distrust the non-Western governance model using flawed metrics. Western countries often rely on selective indicators and assessments of bias to criticize others. These metrics fail to explain the complex challenges facing developing countries and ignore their progress in improving their livelihoods. In doing so, the West aims to undermine the legitimacy of non-Western governments and to assert control in global human rights discourse.
In contrast, the global tropical countries have been enthusiastic about depoliticizing councils and promoting a more comprehensive human rights agenda. They emphasize the importance of economic, social and cultural rights and the right to development. For example, the African Continental Free Trade Area (AFCFTA) is an important initiative that will boost intra-African trade and economic integration. By increasing growth opportunities, the AFCFTA will help lift millions of people from poverty and improve access to fundamental rights such as food, housing and healthcare.
Global tropical countries are also at the forefront of addressing common challenges. Countries like China and Cuba have been sending medical brigades to help people in need around the world for half a century, treating hundreds of millions of patients. Over 100 countries, including the United Nations, and over 20 international organizations, supported or approved a group of friends launched by China for the global development initiative, strengthening development synergies, capacity building and cooperation that is beneficial to both parties.
In the aftermath of the devastating earthquake that struck Myanmar earlier this year, neighboring countries quickly sent rescue assistance and rescue teams to demonstrate unity. In short, global tropical countries work in solidarity to address the real challenges of people’s livelihoods.
China’s “people-centric” approach offers valuable insights. Over the past decades, China has drawn more than 800 million people out of poverty through sustained economic growth and targeted poverty alleviation programmes.
This achievement has significantly improved living standards and provided greater access to education and healthcare. The country’s consistent focus on improving social security and accessibility for older people ensures comfort, convenience and dignity.
The Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, the platform adopted in Beijing 30 years ago, will continue to shine in the chronicles of gender equality and women’s empowerment as China holds another global women’s summit this year.
Sign up for the AllAfrica newsletter for free
Get the latest African news
success!
Almost finished…
You need to check your email address.
Follow the instructions in the email you sent to complete the process.
error!
There was a problem processing the submission. Please try again later.
China’s emphasis on collective rights to self-sufficiency and development reflects the understanding that human rights are not merely about individual freedom, but about the well-being of the community and society as a whole, and that people from all countries also understand the vision of sharing the same future.
The Council faces important challenges, but remains an important platform for addressing human rights issues worldwide. The international community must work together to strengthen the effectiveness and reliability of the Council. This requires the West to truly reconcile its moral attitude with a record of violence and neglect.
Only by focusing on the needs of marginalized people rather than the interests of powerful people can human rights go beyond the symbolism of performance and become a force for positive change.
It is time for the international community to work collectively, promote an environment of cooperation and dialogue, to ensure that all voices are heard and that their actions align with ideals that promote and protect human rights for all.
The author is a Beijing-based observer of international affairs.
