(20 March 2025)

Mr. President,

It is my honor to speak on behalf of the Group of Friends on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights Through Dialogue and Cooperation, and a group of countries.

Currently, the world is becoming increasingly turbulent, with crises and conflicts keep flaring up. The North-South gap and the digital divide is widening, and the deficit in global human rights governance has become more severe. As we usher in the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Second World War and the founding of the United Nations, countries should recommit to the original aspirations of the founding of the UN, reaffirm their commitment to multilateralism, and uphold the international system with the UN at its core and the basic norms governing international relations centered around the purposes and principles of the UN Charter. We should stand in solidarity when addressing global challenges, and protect and promote human rights by ensuring security, advancing development and enhancing cooperation.

As the primary platform within the UN for human rights issues, the Human Rights Council should practice true multilateralism, and adhere to the principles of universality, impartiality, objectivity, and non-selectivity, in order to uphold its credibility and reputation.

First, uphold fairness and justice. Sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity of all countries must be respected in accordance with the UN Charter and Declaration on Principles of International Law concerning Friendly Relations and Cooperation among States in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations. It is imperative to oppose interference in other countries' internal affairs and suppression of their development under the pretext of human rights, reject hegemony and power politics, and resist the politicization of human rights issues and double standards.

Second, adhere to openness and inclusiveness. All countries are equal, regardless of their size, strength or wealth. The diversity of civilizations and the independent choice of each country's path of human rights development should be respected. Countries should not impose their own values or development models on others, nor engage in group politics or bloc confrontation.

Third, pursue win-win cooperation. All human rights, including the right to development, shall be given equal emphasis. We should carry out constructive dialogue and cooperation on the basis of equality and mutual respect and provide technical assistance and capacity-building to help countries enhance their ability to promote and protect human rights. Emerging human rights issues should be given due attention, so as to prevent exacerbation of inequalities among countries due to AI and other new technologies.

Faced with the impact of unilateralism, we call on parties to continue to participate constructively in the work of the Human Rights Council and jointly advance the sound development of the global human rights cause.

Thank you, Mr. President.

List of cosponsors: Bangladesh, Belarus, Bolivia, Burundi, Central African Republic, China, Cuba, DPRK, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Iran, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Pakistan, Russia, Singapore, South Sudan, Sudan, Tunisia, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Zimbabwe.