The Development of International Human Rights Law and the Chinese Contribution to the Global Human Rights Cause

Prior to World War II, human rights were mainly considered to be matters that came under the domestic jurisdiction of each state. The United Nations Charter, adopted in 1945, includes human rights provisions. The adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948 that marked the initial formation of international human rights law. Today, the world has formed a relatively comprehensive system of international human rights law and mechanisms. Since the founding of the People’s Republic of China, and in particular after she introduced reform and opening-up policy in 1978, the Chinese government has actively participated in international human rights causes. To date, the Chinese government has ratified 26 human rights conventions and fulfilled the obligations required by these. China has put forward and continually enriched human rights theory of socialism with Chinese characteristics, emphasizing the importance of state sovereignty in safeguarding human rights and the resolution of human rights controversies through dialogue, thereby contributing to the global human rights cause.