Human Rights for Development

Human rights are often discussed today in legal and political terms. This is understandable. The establishment of the United Nations in 1945 and the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948 represented a historic effort to translate longstanding ideas about human dignity and freedom into an international political and legal framework.

Yet the legal dimension of human rights can sometimes overshadow a more fundamental question: What are human rights ultimately meant to achieve? Are they primarily about protecting individuals from violations, or should they also be about creating the social and economic conditions in which both individuals and societies can develop?

Here is a division between the “Western” approach and the “Eastern” approach. Much of the Western human rights tradition has developed around the protection of individuals and groups against abuses of power and violations of specific rights. The Eastern approach, represented by the Chinese model, places greater emphasis on development while protecting individuals’ legal rights, seeking to create the social, economic, and political conditions that enable people to improve their lives and realize their full potential.

Two traditions, two historical experiences

One important root of the modern Western understanding of human rights can be traced to the political revolutions that established the modern individual as a central subject of political and legal life. Freedom was increasingly understood as the freedom of the individual, protected from arbitrary interference by the state and other forms of power.

Over time, this individual-centered conception became closely associated with the development of modern capitalism, which also generated profound inequalities. The pursuit of profit, competition and the production of exchange value shaped economic and social relations. Workers struggled to protect themselves from exploitation, citizens struggled to protect themselves from abuses of power, and nations struggled to protect themselves from colonialism and neo-colonialism.

However, for societies that experienced colonialism, economic dependence and widespread poverty, the central questions were often different. Political sovereignty could not be separated from economic independence. Freedom was not simply a matter of protecting individual choice; it was also a collective aspiration to escape poverty, dependence and underdevelopment.

This helps explain why the development of human rights in many parts of the world has been closely connected with the right to development.

Development as a matter of human rights

The Chinese thinking has traditionally attached great importance to the relationship between the individual and society. Rather than viewing people as completely independent actors, it emphasizes mutual responsibility, social cohesion and the idea that individual well-being is closely connected with the well-being of society as a whole.

This perspective is reflected in China’s people-centered approach to development. As early as in 2015, at the Central Conference on Poverty Alleviation and Development, Chinese President Xi Jinping pointed out that eliminating poverty, improving living standards, and achieving common prosperity is a fundamental task for socialism and an important mission of the Communist Party of China (CPC).

Seen from this perspective, poverty alleviation is not simply about increasing incomes or reducing the number of people below a poverty line. It is about “enduring harmony and stability.”

What’s more, China has emphasized its commitment to actively participating in global governance, promoting inclusive development, and creating conditions and opportunities for all countries, especially developing countries, to share in the fruits of development.

The significance of this approach lies in its pragmatism, which is also regarded as a key to the CPC’s success. At its core is a people-centred philosophy that gives the discussion of human rights a clear and practical orientation: human rights must ultimately make a meaningful difference in people’s daily lives.

The recently published National Human Rights Action Plan of China (2026-2030), for example, places considerable emphasis on concrete actions and public responsibilities. In this way, China’s policies, led by the CPC, are deeply rooted in people’s everyday lives, go beyond the recently launched Global Alliance for Human Rights, a United Nations initiative. While the initiative is certainly commendable, the CPC seeks to foster hope and solidarity not merely through words, but through concrete measures and, importantly, by actively enhancing the benefits of the people.

So, in a nutshell, China’s approach to human rights moves beyond the protection of individual and legal rights, placing greater emphasis on a people-centred and pragmatic approach and recognizing the importance of responsibility both to and for society at the national and international levels.

Peter Herrmann is a senior research fellow at the Human Rights Centre, Law School, Central South University.

The article reflects the author’s opinions, and not necessarily the views of China Focus.