The international community should take collective actions for human rights and sustainable development, a senior official from Cote d'Ivoire said.
Christian Arnaud Adjelou, president of the National Human Rights Council of Cote d'Ivoire, made the statement at the 2026 Forum on Global Human Rights Governance, which opened in Beijing on Thursday.
Under the theme of "Joint Development, Shared Human Rights: The 40th Anniversary of the Adoption of the Declaration on the Right to Development and a New Vision for Global Human Rights Governance," the two-day forum has gathered over 400 participants from over 100 countries and international organizations, including the United Nations.
Adjelou stressed that human rights and sustainable development are inseparable and must be pursued as a shared global priority.
"This year's Human Rights Governance Forum falls on the 40th anniversary of the UN's Declaration on the Right to Development - a timely reminder that development and human rights go hand in hand. As the Declaration's first article puts it, the right to development is an inalienable human right. Every person and all peoples have the right to take part in, contribute to, and enjoy economic, social, cultural, and political development, in which all human rights and fundamental freedom can be fully realized. They are also entitled to a fair share of the benefits that development brings," said Adjelou.
The National Human Rights Council of Cote d'Ivoire puts sustainable development at its core. Without inclusive sustainable development, human rights cannot be effectively protected, Adjelou said.
Environmental problems are no longer just about protecting nature. They hit at human dignity and fundamental rights. Polluted rivers threaten the right to clean water. Dying farmland endangers the right to food. And as climate change weakens communities, people's rights to health, education, housing, and a decent life are all put at risk, Adjelou said.
People-centered public policies must go hand in hand with protecting the natural resources that are critical to the future, Adjelou said.
"Sustainable development and human rights point us to the same goal - fairer, stronger, more prosperous societies. So we need to treat this as a collective duty and a cross-border priority. Without respect for human rights, there can be no real development. And without sustainable development, there can be no lasting protection of human rights," he said.
During the event, Adjelou said he hopes the forum will foster greater international cooperation and generate fresh ideas so that all people can share the benefits of development.
Cote d'Ivoire official calls on collective actions for human rights
Cote d'Ivoire official calls on collective actions for human rights
