China’s Cooperation (with the International Human Rights System)

Abstract

As a member State of the United Nations (UN), China is bound by the provisions of the Charter of the UN (Charter) and any Security Council (SC) decisions that apply to it. It has participated in a number of UN proceedings on human rights and has ratified over 20 international human rights treaties, but not the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), even though it signed that agreement in 1998. Regardless of whether China’s current practices uphold the human rights standards contained in the treaties, China is gradually accepting the concept of human rights and is taking measures to fulfil its international human rights obligations. China also submits reports on human rights to UN treaty bodies, drafts new international human rights instruments, engages in numerous multilateral, regional and bilateral dialogues on human rights and frequently hosts important regional and international human rights meetings. Following the establishment of the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) by the General Assembly (GA), China was elected to two 3-year terms in 2006 and 2009. Since the end of 2012, when China rotated off the UNHRC, China has already begun lobbying in foreign capitals for a re-election in a future term. All these activities that China has done in an effort to support the UN tend to promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms.