**Interview with Dr. Wang Cuiwen: The Role of Southern Countries in the UN Human Rights Agenda**

**By Zeng Jingning, China News Service**

On September 12, Dr. Wang Cuiwen, the Director of the International Relations Department at Nankai University’s Zhou Enlai School of Government and a researcher at the Nankai University Human Rights Research Center, spoke with us about the vital contributions of Southern countries to the UN human rights agenda.

**China News Service (CNS): In your view, why are Southern countries considered pioneers of the UN human rights agenda?**

**Dr. Wang Cuiwen:** From the inception of the UN Charter to the creation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in the 1940s, Southern countries, including China and various nations in Latin America, played essential roles. For example, during the 1944 Dumbarton Oaks Conference, representatives from the U.S., U.K., and the Soviet Union were discussing the proposed UN Charter, and China emphasized the need for the UN to prioritize global justice. This led to China’s co-sponsorship of a United Nations Organization Conference.

At the San Francisco Conference in April 1945, which gathered 50 nations to draft the UN Charter, Latin American countries formed the largest coalition, significantly influencing the inclusion of human rights provisions. Representing two-fifths of the attendees, these countries proposed numerous amendments that included human rights clauses, ultimately leading to the addition of seven human rights articles in the UN Charter.

By 1946, when the committee for the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was established, Eleanor Roosevelt played a key role, but it was the draft by John Humphrey that included significant input on economic, social, and cultural rights from Panama and Chile. Notably, Latin American countries had already adopted the American Declaration of the Rights and Duties of Man prior to the UN General Assembly voting on the Universal Declaration, which laid important groundwork for its broader acceptance.

**CNS:** What human rights philosophies can be traced back to the traditions of China and Latin American countries during this historical period?**

**Dr. Wang Cuiwen:** The Universal Declaration of Human Rights begins with the principle that “all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.” The term “conscience” is particularly significant here, originating from a constructive proposal by Zhang Pengchun, the sole Chinese member of the drafting committee. He infused the Confucian value of “ren,” which embodies human kindness, into the very essence of international human rights standards.

In Latin America, human rights ideology emphasizes family importance and the interplay of rights with duties and responsibilities, encouraging widespread acknowledgment across various nations. While traditional views often depict Latin American constitutions as reflections of American or European roots, they distinctly stress the interconnectedness of rights and responsibilities.

**CNS:** You’ve highlighted the contributions of Southern countries to international human rights standards. Why do you think Western liberal concepts tend to dominate global discussions on human rights?**

**Dr. Wang Cuiwen:** During the Cold War, Western countries employed their influence to challenge the diversification of international human rights norms. Non-Western cultural contributions to the discourse were often overlooked, constructing a narrative of human rights predominantly shaped by Western liberalism. Consequently, individual liberty and property rights came to the forefront, overshadowing more holistic views on human rights.

In the context of the Cold War rivalry, the geopolitical landscape created political deadlocks that endangered global consensus on human rights. As a result, in 1951, the Universal Declaration was operationalized through two separate covenants—the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights—compartmentalizing rights that had initially been presented as interdependent.

Western nations, especially the U.S., crafted a narrative linking human rights attainment to a Western-style democracy, which was propagated especially in strategic areas during the Cold War. This led to the U.S. exerting pressure on other nations within the UN to conform to its standards, effectively transforming UN human rights mechanisms into tools for American influence and intervention.

**CNS:** In what ways are Southern countries working to create a more inclusive framework for human rights?**

**Dr. Wang Cuiwen:** Since the end of the Cold War, Southern countries have become increasingly active in international human rights discussions, opposing Western narratives that misuse human rights to interfere in sovereign nations. They focus on the universality, objectivity, and non-selectivity of human rights, promoting collaborative and inclusive approaches while honoring the unique political, economic, social, and cultural contexts of different states. They argue for the indivisibility of human rights, encompassing civil, political, economic, and social rights, as well as collective and individual rights.

There is a meaningful shift in the international human rights landscape, moving away from a Western-centric model that emphasizes individual freedom and property rights. In 1986, the UN General Assembly adopted the Declaration on the Right to Development, which defined development rights and recognized individuals and communities as beneficiaries, advocating for equitable access to crucial resources and fair development policies.

With the establishment of an intergovernmental working group on the right to development in 1998, there has been increased recognition of rights that are rooted in non-Western thought, further enhancing their role in the broader human rights debate.

**CNS:** What direction do you foresee Southern countries taking the international human rights mechanisms today?**

**Dr. Wang Cuiwen:** The drafting history of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights highlights that the progress of global human rights necessitates cooperation among nations. A critical avenue for this development is the depoliticization of human rights. Through the initiatives of emerging economies, international human rights mechanisms are evolving towards greater fairness and detaching themselves from political agendas.

In this new era, the richness and diversity of international human rights norms are reflected in the discourse, increasingly acknowledging various rights—such as the right to survival, development, environmental justice, indigenous rights, and rights for vulnerable groups. Acknowledgment and responsiveness to these emerging rights are on the rise.

With Southern countries representing over 80% of the global population, we are at a pivotal moment as global human rights governance grapples with significant challenges. Nonetheless, these nations are actively working together to ensure equitable human rights for all, following their unique paths to modernization—emphasizing cooperation, mutual respect, and equality. They are dedicated to fostering global civilizational initiatives through cultural exchanges and dialogues, collectively striving to enhance the advancement of human rights.